Deadline to Apply: Wildland Firefighter Training (6/3 - 6/7)

DEM's Forest Fire Program is again offering in late spring an intensive, introductory course designed to train new firefighters in the tools, tactics, and strategies used to suppress uncontrolled wildland fires. Wildfires are expected to become more frequent in Southern New England due to climate change. DEM is responding by offering specialized wildfire training classes to build staff and volunteer capacity.

DEM will hold the no-cost, five-day, and classroom and field-based training S-130-S-190 course – with the curriculum designed by the National Wildfire Coordinating Group (NWCG) – at its George Washington Management Area office in Chepachet from June 3^rd – 7^th at 8AM - 5PM daily.

It will qualify students to a higher FFT2 skill designation level recognized by the NWCG and expand the state’s capacity to respond to wildfires, which are expected to become more frequent as climate change continues to create warmer, drier conditions, leading to longer and more active fire seasons. The training will include the use of live fire and PPE, lunch, and refreshments will be provided. There is a final evaluation at the end of the training, and students will receive a certificate of completion. Although no prior experience in firefighting is required, applicants are required to complete the following online sections prior to classroom training sessions:

• S-190 Introduction to Wildland Fire Behavior
• IS-100 Introduction to the Incident Command System
• NIMS-700 Introduction to the National Incident Management System

The online courses are expected to take 12.5 hours to complete, and students can save their progress and resume the courses at their convenience. After completion, evaluation certificates must be sent to ben.arnold@dem.ri.gov.

Space will be limited with priority given to local municipal firefighters and DEM employees. Registration is open until Feb. 25. Acceptance letters will be sent notifying applicants of their admission.

Questions may be directed to Ben Arnold (Ben.Arnold@dem.ri.gov) or Patrick MacMeekin (Patrick.Macmeekin@dem.ri.gov) of DEM’s Division of Agriculture and Forest Environment. To submit an application for the training course, please click here.