Students in the Wildland Firefighting Course (Department of Recreation Management) work through and complete the National Wildfire Coordinating Group basic firefighting classes and gain skills to become qualified as a wildland firefighter type 2. During the semester, students learn the basics of fire behavior including principles of weather, fuel, and topography. They get an inside look at firefighting strategies and tactics for successful and safe fire suppression. Also, students’ complete online modules and work on semester projects dealing with firefighter safety and the understanding of what causes tragedy fires, and how to systematically prevent catastrophes on the fireline.
Outdoor field activities are completed as a requirement for this course, emphasizing hands on learning/training, using proper firefighting techniques and safety demonstrations. Students also work through the process for correctly planning and implementing a Hazard Reduction Burn (Prescribed Fire). This year’s field exercises took place on November 09th, and November 16th. Students constructed fireline with hand tools, demonstrated problem solving and teamwork in the forest environment to succeed at the planned goals and overcome obstacles, and in addition, trained in the safety and use of ignition devices, as well as the use of water/firefighting equipment and apparatus. Lastly, students train on the use of wildland fire shelters and thier applications.
