what course should i take for foresty firefighting

by Ms. Cayla Johnston DDS 6 min read

Forest Firefighters need at least a high school diploma or equivalent. Some firefighter positions may require postsecondary education to obtain various certifications, such as the EMT-Basic certification. EMT requirements vary by jurisdiction.

Full Answer

What training do I need to fight a forest fire?

Fire management programs and techniques are constantly changing, changing in response to new science, changes in public policy, advances in technology, and safety and fire prevention lessons learned. A wide range of courses are available year-round all across the country for professional wildland fire professionals to update their knowledge and skills. Many of these …

What can I do with a degree in forest and Fire Sciences?

Forest Firefighters need at least a high school diploma or equivalent. Some firefighter positions may require postsecondary education to obtain various certifications, such as …

Where to get certified to work as a forest firefighter?

An associate degree program in forest technology prepares you for entry-level career opportunities in logging, forest fire control, forest surveying and conservation. The coursework in these programs incorporates classroom lectures with outdoor hands-on field experiences.

What degree do you need to be a forest technician?

Feb 24, 2022 · Combines three NWCG classes. S-133 is a fire safety course. S-131 is Firefighter Type 1 training. Sometimes called Squad Boss, these are the entry-level supervisors in wildland firefighting. S-211 consists of three skill areas including supply, delivery and application of water.

What skills do you need to be a forest firefighter?

You need strong decision-making skills to work in this field. Stamina: When fighting fires, wildland firefighters have to work long, demanding shifts. You need excellent physical stamina to have this job. Strength: Wildland firefighters often use large power equipment and heavy manual tools, and they must work quickly.Sep 15, 2021

What is a forest firefighter called?

Smokejumpers – These highly-trained, experienced firefighters parachute from airplanes to provide quick initial attack on wildland fires in remote areas. USAJOBS keywords for these positions include Forestry Technician (Smokejumper), Forestry Technician.

How do you prepare for wildland firefighting?

Goal is to complete the workout in less time each week.THE BUY IN. 25 BURPEES. RUN 800M (1/2 MILE) ... TURN AROUND. 20 EXPLOSIVE SQUAT JUMPS. 10 YARDS OF OVERHEAD WALKING LUNGES BACK TO POINT A. ... REPEAT BUY IN. 25 BURPEES. RUN 800M (1/2 MILE) ... TURN AROUND. 20 PUSH-UPS. 10 YARDS OF OVERHEAD WALKING LUNGES TO POINT A. ... BUY OUT. 25 BURPEES.Sep 30, 2019

How do you become a forest firefighter in Canada?

Casual wildland firefighter jobsbe a Canadian citizen or be able to work legally in Canada;have a class 5 Yukon driver's licence;meet physical fitness standards; and.have experience living or working in a wilderness environment.

What is a Type 2 firefighter?

The Firefighter Type 2 serves on a hand crew, engine crew, or helitack crew, performing fire suppression and fuels management duties in the most adverse climate, fuel, and terrain conditions.

What it takes to be a hotshot?

The path to becoming a Hotshot can vary, but it typically includes experience as a Type-2 Firefighter on a Fire Engine Module, Type 2 Handcrew, Fire Use Module, or Helitack Crew with one of the Federal land management agencies (such as the U.S. Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, or National Park Service).

Are calisthenics good for firefighters?

Calisthenics and Core Chest, shoulders, abs, and back muscles— what I refer to as “mountain core”— is a critical focus for building durability. Working on these areas entails push-ups, pull-ups, flutter-kicks, dips, and sit-ups—tens of thousands of them every off-season.Mar 5, 2020

Is the wildland pack test hard?

The pack test might seem a bit intimidating to those new to fire, and at first blush, it does seem a bit challenging. A 45lb pack is heavy. Three miles is a decent distance, and 45 minutes seems like a stiff pace.Aug 30, 2014

How do firefighters get their shape?

Firefighter Physical Fitness TrainingStair climb: 200 seconds (3.3 minutes) at a pre-determined pace.Ladder event: simulate ladder activities (lifting, carrying) in 35.56 seconds.Hose advance: manipulate fully-charged 50 pound firehose through U-shaped course in 20 seconds.More items...

How much do forest firefighters make in Canada?

How much does a Forest Firefighter make? The national average salary for a Forest Firefighter is $108,912 in Canada.

What does a forest firefighter do?

What Does a Forest Firefighter Do? Forest Firefighters usually work on a firefighting team or crew. They use water pumps, chemical pumps, or shovels to extinguish flames and embers and prevent fires. They maintain and test firefighting equipment, including parachutes, to make sure they're ready for the next emergency.

How much weight do wildland firefighters carry?

According to The Times News' report on the weight of firefighter gear, the average weight of a structural firefighter's protective equipment is between 66 to 70 pounds. In contrast, the average weight of a wildland pack is about 25-40 pounds.Apr 9, 2021

What degree do you need

We did a survey to ask other Forest Firefighters what degree they had when they became a Forest Firefighter. Here are the results.

How hard is it

You may need some previous work-related skill, knowledge or experience to be a Forest Firefighter. For example, a bank teller would benefit from experience working directly with the public.

License and certifications

Forest Firefighters may need to be certified as emergency medical technicians at the EMT-Basic level. In addition, some fire departments require firefighters to be certified as an EMT-Paramedic

Skills required

We asked other Forest Firefighters if they could only have 5 skills, what would they be. Here is what they said.

Knowledge required

Just like any other job, you will need certain know-hows to excel at your job. Forest Firefighters are generally very knowledgeable in these 5 key areas.

What is forest firefighting?

4. Forest firefighting is the prevention, control and suppression of fires in forests. It involves everything from fire education to budgeting for supplies, maintaining equipment, fighting fires, and assessing fire damage. A forest firefighter prevents, controls, and suppresses fires in federal, state, and private forests.

What are the duties of a forest firefighter?

Senior forest fire fighters may be offered the role of team lead or captain at some point in their career. Some of the additional tasks that accompany this senior position are: 1 Manage and coordinate forest fire-fighting efforts or controlled burns 2 Oversees emergency dispatch and resource management 3 Deploys personnel for fire suppression, rescue, and emergency medical duties as required 4 Investigates cause of blaze and patterns that may become apparent to aid police investigators 5 Oversees facilities, vehicles and assets 6 Ensures that all firefighting equipment is in a state of readiness and available for immediate deployment 7 Gives orders under stressful conditions 8 Assists and coordinates with law enforcement personnel and medical responders 9 Manages salvage and clean-up activities at fire and emergency scenes. 10 Ensures the integrity of departmental records 11 Facilitates public education sessions for a wide variety of audiences 12 Creates and facilitates fire prevention, pre-fire planning and safety programs 13 Hires volunteer staff and firefighting staff, and support staff

What is the job of a firefighter?

Inspects and maintains facilities, vehicles, equipment, apparatus, tools, supplies and water access points. Inspects, tests, evaluates and repairs equipment after use. Inspects and maintains personal protective equipment. Ensures that all firefighting equipment is ready and available for immediate deployment.

What is a bachelors in forest management?

A bachelor's degree program in forestry provides you with the education needed for both entry-level and mid-level management positions. These programs emphasize the management and development of forest areas for recreational, conservation and economic purposes.

What is an associates degree in forest technology?

An associate degree program in forest technology prepare s you for entry-level career opportunities in logging, forest fire control, forest surveying and conservation. The coursework in these programs incorporates classroom lectures with outdoor hands-on field experiences. You'll study the basic concepts of forestry management, such as the characteristics, uses, and geographic distribution of tree species. Principles of land use and sustained yield forest management are also discussed. You can typically expect to complete an associate degree program within two years. The core curriculum for this type of program usually includes courses in the following areas:

What are the duties of a forester?

Foresters work to protect and conserve woodland ecosystems. As part of the job, a forester researches and plans the best way to use a forest for timber and recreation. Other job duties include: 1 Conduct watershed management 2 Develop and maintain hiking trails and forest roads 3 Direct and supervise the cutting down of trees 4 Implement and monitor reforestation projects 5 Inspect forests for damage caused by outbreaks of insects and disease 6 Manage controlled fires and help extinguish wildfires

How long does it take to get an associates degree?

You can typically expect to complete an associate degree program within two years. The core curriculum for this type of program usually includes courses in the following areas: Silviculture. Forest ecology. Surveying.

How much do conservation scientists make in 2020?

In 2020, the median annual salary for these workers was $64,010.

What is RT 130?

S-134 is a safety course focusing on personal firefighter safety. RT-130 is the annual fire line safety refresher training required for all firefighters. Topics differ by year based on industry recommendations and identified training needs. Includes annual shelter deployment practice for all participants.

What is the purpose of writing assignments?

Through writing assignments, students analyze audience and purpose, research and organize ideas, and format and design documents based on subject matter and content. Class sessions and assignments involve giving oral presentations and using computers.

How old do you have to be to be a wildland firefighter?

To become a wildland firefighter, you must be between the 18 and 35 years old and pass a physical fitness test. The average firefighter is paid $8.00/hour. They sometimes earn time and a half or "hazard duty" pay. Most agencies hire a fair number of employees on a seasonal basis (generally from May to September).

What tools do firefighters use?

These firefighters are generally given assignments on the toughest part of a fire and use a variety of specialized hand tools, including chainsaws and fireline explosives . The crew members serve in all phases of wildland firefighting - building firelines, burning out, setting backfires and mopping up.

What is the work capacity test?

The Work Capacity Test is a series of tests used to determine the capabilities of an individual and ensure he/she is physically able to perform the duties of wildland firefighting.

How to become a smokejumper?

Generally, smokejumpers are the initial attack on remote, inaccessible fires. To become a smokejumper, you need one year of general outdoor experience. Included in this one year of experience must be three months of wildland fire experience on an organized crew. Competition for smokejumper jobs in recent years is resulting in applicants with four to five seasons of wildland firefighting experience competing for the very limited number of jobs that become available each year.

How many firefighters are there in a wildland fire?

Engine crews are made up of 3-5 wildland firefighters. A typical wildland fire engine is a heavy-duty off road vehicle able to carry up to 800 gallons of water. Engines also carry foam to use on wildland fuels. The foam can also be used to protect the exterior walls of a structure.

What do helicopters do to help firefighters?

Helicopters support firefighters on the ground by dropping water, foam or retardant on flaming trees, brush and even structures to cool hotspots and prevent a fire from spreading. Airtankers. Airtankers are large planes fitted with tanks for transporting and dropping fire retardant or water.

How do agencies respond to a reported incident?

As the incident requires, additional resources are dispatched from the local agency. Once the incident goes beyond the local agency's ability to continue supplying resources, requests for additional resources are forwarded to the nearest Geographical Area Coordination Center (GACC).

About the Program

The forest and fire sciences program prepares you for a career in the protection and management of forests and natural resources.

Learn by Doing

As a forest and fire sciences student, you will have access to a number of outdoor field sites for projects and research. Facilities include the Forestry Skills Center and the Urban Forest Ecosystems Institute (UFEI) where you can study the full spectrum of forest settings – from inner-city forests to remote semi-developed forests.

Our Graduates

Forest and fire sciences graduates are employed in California and throughout the world, sustaining forests, establishing urban wildland areas and managing the environment.

Where to get certified

The S-100 Basic Fire Suppression and Safety training program, developed by BC Wildfire Services, is considered an acceptable WorkSafeBC standard. Workers with a certificate of completion for this program are considered properly trained and able to work as forest firefighters.

Other certification courses

Alternate training programs may be accepted by WorkSafeBC. Employers or training providers who have developed training standards other than S-100 may apply to WorkSafeBC for review. Applications can be made to the Manager of the Certification Services department of WorkSafeBC.

Wildland Fire Science: Fire Ecology,Behavior, Controlled Burn and Firefighting

The U.S. has experienced historic levels of extreme fire behavior recently with more acres burned, more homes and resources destroyed, more human mortality and more money spent in fire suppression. The following series of online courses in Wildland Fire Science will teach the benefits, risks and methods to manage fire in natural landscapes.

FOR 531: Introduction to Wildland Fire Science

This course explores the physical, chemical, biological and ecological processes associated with wildland fire, with particular emphasis on fire behavior, fuels, weather, climate and the associated effects on ecology, management, fire suppression, prescribed fire, and smoke emissions and exposure.

FOR 595 – 601: Fire Ecology

This course emphasizes the relationship between wildland fire and southeastern US ecosystems. Plants and animals of the region evolved with fire and many rare and endangered species are fire dependent.

FOR 532: Firefighter Type 2 (FFT2)Certification

This entry-level firefighter course leads to a Firefighter Type 2 (FFT2) National Wildfire Coordination Group (NWCG) Certification. The NWCG provides national leadership to develop, maintain and communicate interagency standards, guidelines, qualifications and training that enable interoperable operations among federal and non-federal entities.

FOR 595-003: Firefighter Type 1 (FFT1) Training

This intermediate firefighter training program (equivalent to National Wildland Fire Coordination Group (NWCG) S-131, S-133 and S-231 courses) is designed to prepare the Firefighter 2 (FFT2) to move to the Firefighter 1 (FFT1) position.

Definition

Roles

Staff

Other

  • Forest firefighters also work directly for state forests. Some also work in private industry for forestry firms and private firefighting companies.
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Safety

  • Forest firefighters spend much of their time outdoors in the field, where they're exposed to all kinds of weather. During fires, they're exposed to flames, smoke, and other hazards. Fighting forest fires can be dangerous work. While in the field, forest firefighters and inspectors must wear appropriate protective clothing, such as boots, gloves, and a helmet. Many forestry jobs, and esp…
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Cost

  • As of 2013, forest firefighters earned an average salary of $45,600, while forest fire inspectors and prevention specialists earned an average of $33,610.
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Management

  • After gaining several of years of experience, forest firefighters and inspectors may work their way up to positions as forest firefighting and prevention supervisors. These professionals plan forest fire prevention and control programs, and recruit, train, and supervise forest firefighters. These managers earn an average salary of $70,040.
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Academics

  • Many forest technician positions require a two-year degree from a technical college recognized by the Society of American Foresters (SAF). However, many technical positions within the Forest Service, such as fire-related positions, don't require college degrees, while still offering opportunities for advancement.
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Certifications

  • Foresters and forest technicians may need to be licensed or registered in some states. Voluntary professional certification is available through SAF. The National Wildfire Suppression Association also offers an optional training certification program resulting in designation as a Professional Certified Emergency Services Contractor.
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