Sacramento Sirens benefit from local firefighters

On August 6 the Sacramento Sirens scored a third straight Independent Women's Football League national title. Since the Sirens edged the Atlanta Xplosion, 9-7, things have settled down for most of the women, except for a few.The grasses of the Sacramento Valley are drying with the dwindling heat of the summer and firefighters are constantly ready. Krisann Kosel and Julie Wicher of the Sacramento Sirens are ready to go to work now that their football season is over. Both women are wildland firefighters for the Federal Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and this is their busy season for the job that pays."Football doesn't pay, even though we wish it did," says Kosel, an offensive lineman.The Bureau of Land Management, nationally, protects 388 million acres from wildfires. During the football season the two may be called out to attend to wildfires. The local BLM field office of Folsom, which both Kosel and Wicher are assigned to, is responsible for 14 counties of Northern California.A grand total of three BLM firefighters cover the 14-county jurisdiction. Folsom's Fire Department enlists 71 personnel to control fire outbreaks in just the local vicinity of the city. "If there is a fire anywhere nearby," says Kosel, "I can go as an individual or with a co-worker."The two Sirens are also eligible to be sent out of state if other field offices need further assistance on a wildland fire. Each assignment can last up to 14 consecutive days at a time.The three-time national champion Sirens practiced several times a week, in addition to Wicher and Kosel's four 10-hour shifts maintaining the federal wildlands."It's definitely a challenge in time management," says Wicher. Wicher and Kosel admit that it also took a lot of understanding from their coaching staff and their supervisor at the BLM to allow them to do both the things the love. "The coaching staff understands we won't be able to make practices or even games when there is a fire," says Kosel. "My job (firefighting) comes first.""Thankfully we have a very understanding boss at the BLM and coaches at the Sirens," says Wicher.At 5'4'', 145 pounds, Wicher keeps herself busy with the team. On top of being a wildland firefighter, Wicher played halfback, special teams and occasionally mixed it up as a defensive end for the Sirens.Kosel played with the Orlando Fire of the Women's Football Association before becoming a Siren. She's always wanted to be a firefighter, but it was by chance that she ended up on another football team."I wanted to get this type of job," says Kosel about firefighting, "and it just so happen it was the Sirens, national champions." Wicher had a much different route in getting to carry the pigskin for the Sirens."My grandfather had heard about the team," says Wicher. "He saw them in a newspaper and I said I wasn't interested, but he said it would be interesting to tell people his granddaughter plays football."Through a fast friendship, Wicher was brought into the world of firefighting with the help of nine-year veteran, Kosel.Kosel protects the less experienced Wicher in the field as well as on the gridiron field as offensive linemen for the Sirens.At age 34, Kosel has been working fire for nine years and has taught Wicher the ropes."She's always very open and willing to help me out," says Wicher talking about her mentor. "She's been a big help."Kosel will be entering her third season with Sacramento Sirens next year and Wicher her fifth. They and Sirens hope to continue the good luck and take a fourth straight Independent Women's Football League title in 2006.