WILDLAND FIRE TRAINING

Below is a description of different classes that are held,

FI-110  Wildland Fire Cause Determination for First Responders

Prerequisites:  Qualified as Firefighter Type 2 (FFT2), PA-130 or S-130 Basic Firefighter and S-190 Introduction to Fire Behavior

Course Description:  This course is designed for firefighters, fire crews, and other persons who may respond to or come across a wildland fire, training them to take appropriate early action to determine fire cause and to preserve valuable evidence that would otherwise be destroyed by suppression activities.  

I-200  Basic Incident Command System

Prerequisites:  None

Course Description:  This course introduces students to the principles of the Incident Command System (ICS) associated with incident-related performance.  The student will learn how to identify and describe the principle features of ICS, and describe how the ICS is used to meet the organizational needs of both large and small incidents.

L-180  Human Factors on the Fireline

Prerequisites:  Qualified as Firefighter Type 2 (FFT2), PA-130 or S-130 Basic Firefighter and S-190 Introduction to Fire Behavior

Course Description:  This training course is designed for unit-level supervisors to use when delivering orientation training to new crewmembers.  Topic areas include situation awareness, basic communication responsibilities, attitude & stress barriers, decision-making process and teamwork principles.    

Map & Compass for Firefighters

Prerequisites:  Qualified as Firefighter Type 2 (FFT2), PA-130 or S-130 Basic Firefighter and S-190 Introduction to Fire Behavior

Course Description:  This course provides the student with an intermediate level of knowledge and skills necessary for land navigation with a map and compass.  The daily field exercises will provide students with the opportunity to practice skills and utilize classroom exercises. 

PA-130  Basic Wildland Firefighter

Prerequisites:  None

Course Description:  This introductory course is designed to train entry-level Pennsylvania firefighters.  You will be introduced to and gain knowledge of the basic incident management organization, firefighting techniques, suppression equipment, safety, and strategy/tactics.  Field exercises will be performed for valuable hands-on training.

S-131  Advanced Firefighter Training (Squad Boss)

Prerequisites:  Qualified as Firefighter Type 2 (FFT2), PA-130 or S-130 Basic Firefighter and S-190 Introduction to Fire Behavior

Course Description:  Advanced Firefighter Training is an 8-hour course designed to meet the training needs of the advanced firefighter/squad boss (FFT1).  The course is interactive, and contains several exercises that encourage group and class discussion.  Individual instructional units cover Fireline reference materials, documenting materials, documenting activities, Fireline communications, tactics and safety. 

S-190  Introduction to Wildland Fire Behavior 

Prerequisites:  None

Course Description:  This course provides instruction in the primary environmental factors that affect the start and spread of wildfire, and the recognition of potentially hazardous situations. 

S-200  Initial Attack Incident Commander Type 4 ( ICT 4 )

Prerequisites:  Qualified as any Single Resource Boss (Crew Boss, Engine Boss, Dozer Boss or Tractor Plow Boss)

Course Description:  This course is designed to meet the training needs of the Initial Attack Incident Commander (ICT4).  It is presented in a lecture/discussion format and supplemented with group exercises.  The six instructional units cover:  Readiness and Mobilization; Size-up, Planning and Ordering; Deployment and Containment; Administrative Requirements; and Post-Fire Evaluation.  Evaluation of the trainee is by unit tests and a final examination. 

S-211  Portable Pumps and Water Use

Prerequisites:  Qualified as Firefighter Type 2 (FFT2), PA-130 or S-130 Basic Firefighter and S-190 Introduction to Fire Behavior

Course Description:  This course gives the student practical knowledge and application skills of portable pump operations.  Field exercises train students in the setup and operation of a portable pump along with foam operations. 

S-212 Wildland Fire Chain Saws

Prerequisites:  Qualified as Firefighter Type 2 (FFT2), PA-130 or S-130 Basic Firefighter and S-190 Introduction to Fire Behavior

Course Description:  Wildland Fire Chain Saws is a combined classroom/field exercise course providing skill training for work as a power saw operator on wildland fires.  Cutting techniques and procedures presented are of uniform applicability throughout the United States.  Significant tree/brush species differences are addressed as necessary, and local and regional species are stressed.  This course is divided into five classroom instructional units, followed by a field practicum.   

S-215 Fire Operations in the Wildland/Urban Interface

Prerequisites:  Qualified as any single resource boss (Crew Boss, Engine Boss, etc) or RFD Company Officer 

Course Description:  This course is designed to assist structural and wildland firefighters who will be making tactical decisions when confronting wildland fire that threatens life, property and improvements in the wildland urban interface.  Instructional Units include:  Interface awareness, size-up, initial strategy and incident action plan, structure triage, structure protection tactics, incident action plan assessment and update, follow-up and public relations and firefighter safety in the interface.

S-230 Crew Boss (Single Resource)

Prerequisites:  Qualified as advanced firefighter/squad boss (FFT1), and successful completion of Intermediate Wildland Fire Behavior (S-290)

Course Description:  Crew boss (Single Resource) is a classroom skill course to produce trainee proficiency in the performance of all duties associated with the single resource crew boss, from initial dispatch through return-to-home unit.  Instructional topics include: Preparation and mobilization, Assignment preparation, Tactics and Safety, Off-line duties, and Demobilization/post-incident activities.  This course is designed for use throughout the United States, and includes examples from all geographic areas.

S-270 Basic Air Operations

Prerequisites:  Qualified as advanced firefighter/squad boss (FFT1) or dispatch recorder

Course Description:  This course covers aircraft types and capabilities, aviation management and safety for flying in and working with agency aircraft, tactical and logistical uses of aircraft, and requirements for helicopter take-off and landing areas.

S-290 Intermediate Wildland Fire Behavior

Prerequisites:  Qualified as firefighter (FFT2)

Course Description:  Intermediate Wildland Fire Behavior is a classroom-based skills course designed to prepare the prospective supervisor to undertake safe and effective fire management operations.  It is the second course in a series that collectively serves to develop fire behavior prediction knowledge and skills.  The 12 units of this course go beyond introduction to Fire Behavior, S-190, in providing more detailed treatment of fuels, weather and topography, and a stronger basis for analyzing variables and their interactive effects on fire behavior.