Wildland Firefighter Course

Lesson 1 • Topography and Fire Spread

Explains how slope, aspect, and terrain features accelerate or channel fire. Links topographic reading to escape route and safety zone planning.

Lesson 2 • Weather Influences on Fire

Analyzes temperature, humidity, wind, and atmospheric stability as fire drivers. Prepares firefighters to read weather shifts that signal dangerous fire runs.

Lesson 3 • Fuel Types and Characteristics

Examines live and dead fuels, moisture content, and arrangement. Connects fuel properties to rate of spread and flame length predictions.

Lesson 4 • Fire Behavior Prediction Tools

Introduces fire behavior rating systems, spread indices, and field observation methods. Enables firefighters to translate data into actionable situational awareness.

Lesson 1 • LCES and Situational Awareness

Applies the lookouts, communications, escape routes, and safety zones framework to dynamic fire environments. Trains firefighters to continuously reassess conditions and update their safety plan.

Lesson 2 • Accident Investigation and Lessons Learned

Reviews historical entrapments and fatality case studies to extract preventable failure points. Reinforces safety principles through evidence-based analysis of real incidents.

Lesson 3 • Fire Shelter Deployment

Teaches entrapment recognition, shelter selection criteria, and correct deployment technique. Repeated practice builds the muscle memory required for life-saving action under stress.

Lesson 4 • Core Safety Orders and Watch-Outs

Covers the ten standard firefighting orders and eighteen watch-out situations. Provides the behavioral framework that governs every operational decision on the fireline.

Lesson 1 • Roles and Responsibilities on the Fireline

Defines crew member, crew boss, and division supervisor roles and their reporting relationships. Knowing role boundaries enables effective upward and downward communication.

Lesson 2 • Resource Management and Ordering

Covers resource typing, ordering procedures, and demobilization planning. Proper resource management prevents shortages and ensures efficient use of personnel and equipment.

Lesson 3 • Unified Command and Multi-Agency Coordination

Addresses unified command structure for multi-jurisdictional fires and agency coordination centers. Interagency cooperation is essential on large fires involving multiple land management entities.

Lesson 4 • Incident Action Planning

Explains the planning cycle, operational period structure, and briefing formats. Effective action planning aligns all resources toward shared tactical objectives.

Lesson 1 • Tool Maintenance and Field Repair

Establishes daily inspection routines, sharpening methods, and field repair procedures. Well-maintained tools perform reliably and reduce the risk of equipment failure during operations.

Lesson 2 • Chainsaw Operations and Safety

Covers chainsaw components, personal protective equipment, and felling fundamentals. Safe saw operation is critical when clearing snags and constructing line in timbered terrain.

Lesson 3 • Hand Tool Techniques and Body Mechanics

Teaches proper swing, scrape, and grub techniques to build line efficiently. Correct body mechanics reduce fatigue and musculoskeletal injury during extended operations.

Lesson 4 • Portable Pump and Hose Systems

Explains pump priming, hose lay configurations, and nozzle operation for direct attack. Proficiency with water delivery systems expands tactical options on the fireline.

Lesson 1 • Mop-Up and Patrol Procedures

Details systematic mop-up techniques, patrol schedules, and cold-line verification methods. Thorough mop-up prevents rekindles that can trap crews and destroy containment progress.

Lesson 2 • Direct Attack Methods

Covers flank, head, and pincer attack approaches for fires accessible to crews. Direct attack is the fastest suppression method when conditions allow safe close engagement.

Lesson 3 • Indirect Attack and Backfire Use

Explains line placement away from the fire edge and the use of prescribed burning to remove fuel. Indirect tactics are applied when direct attack is unsafe or impractical.

Lesson 4 • Fireline Construction Principles

Defines mineral soil exposure standards, line width requirements, and construction sequence. These principles ensure lines hold under expected fire intensity and spread rates.

Lesson 1 • Smokejumper and Rappeller Operations

Introduces initial attack by smokejumpers and rappellers on remote and inaccessible fires. Understanding their deployment process helps ground crews integrate with airborne initial attack teams.

Lesson 2 • Aerial Supervision and Coordination

Details air tactical group supervisor duties, radio frequency management, and drop sequencing. Effective aerial supervision prevents conflicts between aircraft and maximizes suppression impact.

Lesson 3 • Helicopter Safety and Landing Zones

Covers helicopter hazard zones, rotor wash dangers, and landing zone construction standards. Ground crew safety around helicopters depends on strict adherence to approach and departure protocols.

Lesson 4 • Types of Aerial Firefighting Resources

Surveys fixed-wing tankers, helicopters, and aerial supervision aircraft and their roles. Knowing each platform's capability allows ground crews to request and use air support effectively.

Lesson 1 • Prescription Development and Planning

Covers weather windows, fuel moisture thresholds, and smoke dispersion criteria for burn prescriptions. A well-defined prescription keeps the fire within manageable intensity and minimizes escape risk.

Lesson 2 • Holding and Contingency Operations

Details crew positioning, holding line construction, and contingency trigger points during burns. Effective holding prevents escapes and protects adjacent resources from unintended fire spread.

Lesson 3 • Post-Burn Evaluation and Documentation

Establishes methods for measuring treatment effectiveness, documenting outcomes, and reporting deviations. Post-burn data improves future prescription accuracy and supports adaptive management decisions.

Lesson 4 • Prescribed Fire Principles and Benefits

Explains ecological, hazard reduction, and land management objectives of prescribed burning. Understanding the purpose of prescribed fire builds the rationale for all subsequent planning steps.

Lesson 1 • Strategic Containment Planning

Applies fire behavior projections, values at risk, and resource availability to containment strategy. Strategic planning balances aggressive suppression with firefighter safety and resource constraints.

Lesson 2 • Night Operations and Extended Attack

Addresses reduced visibility hazards, crew fatigue management, and operational period transitions at night. Night operations require heightened safety protocols and clear communication to maintain crew accountability.

Lesson 3 • Demobilization and After-Action Review

Guides systematic resource release, site rehabilitation, and structured after-action review processes. Proper demobilization preserves resources for future incidents and captures organizational learning.

Lesson 4 • Large Fire Complexity and Transition

Defines complexity factors that escalate a fire from initial attack to extended attack. Recognizing transition triggers allows early resource ordering and prevents operational gaps.