Where Firefighters Are Made: Sacramento Mountains Wildfire Academy
Cloudcroft Fire Department Volunteer Hilary Kitzman and SMWA graduate Dakota Moon give an inside look at the Academy
By Hilary Kitzman
Area volunteer firefighters recently trained in wildland firefighting—critical schooling for folks responding to blazes in the wildland-urban interface of the Sacramento Mountains.
The Sacramento Mountains Wildfire Academy (SMWA) returned to Cloudcroft from March 21–29, filling the classrooms and hallways of Cloudcroft High School with the energy of firefighters preparing for the season ahead.
Now in its 23rd year, the Academy remains the final wildfire academy offered in the Southwest each spring — a crucial last opportunity for firefighters to earn the certifications they need before fire season begins. In a region where wildfire is a constant threat, longevity matters.
Training Grounds
This year, SMWA welcomed approximately 70 students from departments across Otero County and as far away as Arizona. The purpose of the Academy is to prepare both new and experienced firefighters for wildland fire response and to offer essential CPR and first aid training to local citizens.
Students range in age and experience, creating an environment where mentorship flows naturally. Instructors bring backgrounds from federal, state, and local agencies, offering a depth of knowledge shaped by years on the line.
Wildland Fire Behavior and Firefighter Training forms the foundation of the Academy. The S130 course, coordinated through the National Wildfire Coordinating Group, introduces students to the fundamentals of wildland firefighting. It pairs with S190, which focuses on fire behavior, and L180, which addresses human factors and decision-making. Together, these courses span two full weekends and include a mandatory field day where firefighters practice handson skills in instructorled scenarios.
Additional classes at SMWA included Advanced Firefighter, Crew Boss, Engine Boss, Wildland Fire Chainsaws, CPR & First Aid for providers, a HandsOnly CPR class for community members, and the Pack Test – an annual physical requirement for any firefighter who intends to deploy. The Pack Test consists of a three-mile walk with a 45-pound pack on flat terrain, completed in 45 minutes or less.
The Academy in Action
Among this year’s students is Dakota Moon, attending the Academy for the third time.
Moon grew up in Alamogordo and graduated from Cloudcroft High School in 2020. He joined the Cloudcroft Volunteer Fire Department while in college, and SMWA was his first real exposure to the world of fire. “I never wanted an office job,” he said. “I always wanted to be outside. Wildland firefighting just made sense – what better way to be outside than to fight fires?”
His first year at the Academy left a strong impression. “I was 100 percent green,” he said. “But I felt this huge sense of pride and accomplishment. I knew that with that certification, I could go on to bigger and better things.”
Just a week after earning his red card, he was deployed to the McBride Fire – an experience he describes as sleepless, exhausting, and formative. “Being pretty dang green, it established a baseline for me of what wildfires are really like,” he said. “That was my first time going to staging, getting an assignment, and figuring out what to do.”
The SMWA Field Day also pushed him in ways he didn’t expect. “The Pack Test was the hardest part,” he said. “You have to be ready for it, especially at altitude. And during field day, I was really gassed out. At one point we traded tools, and I was in the front setting the pace. Then we had to deploy fire shelters – your adrenaline is already pumping from cutting line, and suddenly you’re practicing for an oh-crap situation.”
Over the years, the Academy helped shape his skills, confidence, and ultimately his career trajectory. After volunteering with Cloudcroft, and another volunteer department in the Flats, he earned his structural certifications, then spent a year on a contract Type 6 engine crew in California, fighting major fires in the Six Rivers and Smith River fires.
He later joined the Forest Service, where he was offered a spot as a rookie Hotshot. Around the same time, he was accepted at While Sands Missile Range, where he now works as a full-time firefighter. The SMWA, “It shaped the way for me,” he said. “It was my starting point.”
Now, as a returning student and experienced firefighter, Moon sees himself reflected in the new students. “It definitely brings memories back, since this is where everything started,” he said. “It’s nice to return to your roots. It’s nice to see new faces and see where some of them might start their careers. We never stop learning in this job.”
The Academy’s impact extends far beyond individual careers. SMWA strengthens local fire readiness across the Sacramento Mountains. Firefighters from Cloudcroft, High Rolls, Timberon, Mayhill, Sacramento, Weed, and beyond train side by side, building the shared skills and trust that become essential when disaster strikes.
When crews respond to a fire on the mountain, they are often working with people they trained with here — a familiarity that can make all the difference in high-risk situations.
Dakota believes that training together is essential for a community like Cloudcroft. “Training is one of, if not the most important thing,” he said. “For a community with such a high fire risk, training and education are everything. We have to band together. It’s up to all of us to protect our homes.”
As the region looks toward the 2026 fire season, conditions remain uncertain. February was unusually warm, and snowfall has been limited. “Sometimes Cloudcroft doesn’t get enough snow,” Dakota said. “There’s more ladder fuel, and this year has been warm and dry. Our preload (of moisture) isn’t going to do much for us.”
If he could leave readers with one message, it would be this: “Get out there and know your firefighters – know who is protecting your community. I take a lot of pride in being a firefighter and in protecting the community I grew up in, continue to visit, and love. The Wildland Academy plays a huge role in that. And if you can, go volunteer. Learn about wildfire, learn about the wildland-urban interface. It all matters.”
Get Involved
For fire safety information, volunteer opportunities, including the new Community Emergency Response Team (CERT), contact the Cloudcroft Volunteer Fire Department at info@cloudcroftfd.com.
Meet the Writer
Local EMT and volunteer with the Cloudcroft VFD Hilary Kitzman is a movie producer. She moved to Cloudcroft after living in the Dallas/Fort Worth area and spending nearly 20 years working in Hollywood and Los Angeles.
Her recent film, Wild Like Me, features inmates in an Arizona prison who train wild mustangs, finding “purpose and redemption,”—a project she edited from Cloudcroft.
Wild Like Me is streaming on Great American Pure Flix and is available through Amazon Prime.
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