Formalized Agency Training Courses
Formalized agency training courses provide training in areas such as fuels management methods and technology, silviculture, contracting, and GIS. Many times this training is sponsored by a region or local unit. If you have an interest in this type of training, your supervisor or training officer may be the best starting place. You can also visit the websites listed below or visit your unit’s or region’s training website.
Fire Management Curriculum
Basic Fire Training—All personnel engaged in fireline operations, including emergency firefighters, must have completed a minimum of 32 hours of basic wildland fire training, including S-130, Firefighting Training, S-190 Introduction to Wildland Fire Behavior, L-180 Human Factors in the Wildland Fire Service, and I-100, Introduction to the Incident Command System, as indicated in the Wildland and Prescribed Fire Qualifications System (310-1).
Annual Fireline Safety Refresher Training—This training is required for all personnel participating in fire suppression or prescribed fire activities who may be subject to assignments on the fireline. NPS personnel will receive at least 8 hours of annual safety refresher training.
Annual Fireline Safety Refresher Training will have a 12-month currency. Annual Fireline Safety Refresher Training must include the following core topics:
- Entrapments—Use training and reference materials to study the risk management process and rules of engagement. Current Issues—Review and discuss identified "hot topics" and "national emphasis topics."
- Fire Shelter—Review and discuss last-resort survival; conduct "hands-on" fire shelter inspections; and practice shelter deployments.
- Other Hazards and Safety Issues—Choose additional hazard and safety subjects
A website entitled “Wildland Fire Safety Training Annual Refresher” (WFSTAR) is available to assist in this training.
Fire Program Management—The NPS requires that all components of this course be successfully completed by all full-time fire management officers (FMOs).
Fire Management Leadership—The NPS requires that all components of this course be successfully completed by superintendents with fire management responsibilities within their park.
Training Resources
These programs are designed to give participants a mix of classroom and field experience focused on wildland fire subject matter and expertise.
Prescribed Fire Training Center
The PFTC, located in Tallahassee, Florida, is a unique program blending maximum field prescribed burning experience with a flexible curriculum of classroom instruction on topics of interest to prescribed fire practitioners. Attendees will have the opportunity to complete portions of their National Wildfire Coordinating Group (NWCG) approved prescribed fire task books under the guidance of invited training specialists.
Wildland Fire Training
Website that enables access to local area, geographic area, national, and other related interagency wildland fire training information.
Wildland Fire Leadership Development Program
Website provides information that allows individuals to strive for a higher performance level as a leader through self-directed learning opportunities.
Refresher Training
This website, updated annually, offers guidance, agency policies, emerging issues, training materials, and topics to assist instructors in preparing to teach annual refresher training.
Arthur Carhart National Wilderness Training Center
The Carhart Center addresses challenges in wilderness management, training, and education identified by wilderness managers all across the country. The staff works with experts at all levels of the four wilderness-managing agencies, along with outside experts, to develop comprehensive interagency solutions to wilderness challenges using a team approach.
Agency Training
Last updated: December 8, 2016