Wyoming State Forestry Division
Wyoming State Forestry Division
Embedded Files
Rob Akers to be inducted into Wyoming Firefighters Hall of Fame
Rob Akers, longtime Wyoming State Forestry Division employee, will be inducted into the Wyoming Firefighters Hall of Fame at 2500 Academy Ct in Riverton at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, August 22. Akers significantly impacted the Wyoming Fire Service and the people of Wyoming in his more than 41 year tenure with the division, especially in developing the state’s inmate wildland firefighting program, now known as the Wyoming Smokebusters.
Akers was first hired as a supervisor for the Young Adult Conservation Corps (YACC) in Newcastle through a federal program in 1979 and was later hired by the division in May 1980 to oversee inmates from the Wyoming State Penitentiary in Rawlins as they performed forest management work on state trust land south of Elk Mountain near Saratoga. He trained inmates in wildland firefighting to assist local firefighting resources in wildland fire suppression.
Akers became the program manager of the Forestry Conservation Program when the Wyoming Department of Corrections opened its minimum-security Wyoming Honor Conservation Camp north of Newcastle in March 1990. The program grew to include as many as nine correctional forestry crew supervisors and 55 inmate crew members who were assigned to community service projects, state trust land management and wildland fire. Akers retired from the division in December 2021. Akers was nominated for inclusion in the Wyoming Firefighters Hall of Fame by the Wyoming State Forestry Division and the Weston County Fire Protection District.
“The success of the Wyoming Forestry Conversation Program was a direct result of Rob’s ability to manage and motivate inmates and develop crew supervisors,” Wyoming State Forester Kelly Norris said. “We are grateful for Rob’s dedication and many years of commitment to the Wyoming Fire Service and wish to recognize him for his lasting contributions, impacts, and influence on those he has served across the State.”
Civil Rights Statement
Civil Rights Statement
In accordance with Federal law and U.S. Department of Agriculture policy, this institution is prohibited from discriminating on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age or disability. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs.) To file a complaint of discrimination: write USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, Room 326-W, Whitten Building, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington,D.C. 20250-9410 or call (202) 720-5964 (voice and TDD). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.
The Wyoming State Forestry Division was officially formed in 1952 by the Legislature. Under State Statute the State Forester is mandated to “have direction of all forest interests and all matters pertaining to forestry within the jurisdiction of the State of Wyoming.” The Forestry Division fulfills this charge by providing three basic programs to the people of the state; State Trust Land Management, Fire Management, and Assistance Forestry.
Find us on social media.
The Forestry Division is responsible for the management of approximately 263,000 acres of forested trust land across the state. This management includes timber management and harvest, and managing our state lands for long term forest health and productivity. The division is also responsible for fire management on 3.4 million surface acres of state trust land and cooperative fire management on private and federal lands.
The Division is responsible for promotion of good forest management and protection throughout the state on all lands. This includes input, advice, and assistance to private landowners, communities, counties, fire districts, elected state leaders, and federal land management agencies. Much of the assistance forestry program is delivered through the partnership and financial support of the USDA Forest Service and their State & Private Forestry Programs.
The Wyoming State Forestry Division currently has 58 full time , 28 seasonal employees and 5 (GNA) good neighbor authority foresters. The Division is headquartered in Cheyenne, and has field offices in Newcastle, Casper, Laramie, Riverton, Cody, Buffalo, Pinedale, and Lyman. The Forestry Conservation program utilizes inmates for forestry projects and firefighting and is located in Newcastle.
Civil Rights Statement
Civil Rights Statement
In accordance with Federal law and U.S. Department of Agriculture policy, this institution is prohibited from discriminating on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age or disability. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs.) To file a complaint of discrimination: write USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, Room 326-W, Whitten Building, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington,D.C. 20250-9410 or call (202) 720-5964 (voice and TDD). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.
Report abuse