Sam Topper of Dover is the wildland fire supervisor for the Delaware Forest Service, leading crews that help battle wildfires in other states.

When assisting at wildfires, the crews may work 16 hours a day in brutal conditions.

The crews include Forest Service employees but also members of the public who take the required training to be qualified to serve for two- or three-week assignments.

Soon after returning from fighting a wildfire in Colorado, Sam Topper of Dover prepared to battle blazes in Arizona.

As the wildland fire supervisor for the Delaware Forest Service , Topper led the three-person crew from Delaware with Aiden Binko and Tom Hairgrove, driving a firetruck to help battle the Colorado blaze July 20 to Aug. 4.

Then on Aug. 13, Topper left to serve in Arizona with wildla

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