Wildland Fire Technology

The Wildland Fire Technology program will provide the student with training in hand crew formation, fire line construction, and the use of wildland equipment. The behavior of fires, protective clothing, and wild land fire tools will also be addressed. The Wildland Fire Technology program is for those students who desire to gain an understanding of wildland fire investigation, fire prevention, and support operations. This program will also meet the requirements for the US Forest Service hiring process as an entry-level wildland firefighter.

A Certificate of Achievement is awarded upon completion of all required courses with a grade of C or better.

10-15

Program Outcomes:

1.Explain the required wildland fire operations, protocols, standard operating procedures, practices and wildland techniques to prepare students for employment with California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, US Forest Service and other agencies.
2. Operate and function within the Incident Command System protocols established by National Interagency Incident Management System.
3. Analyze Wildland fire behavior and determine safe and effective strategies for controlling fire and saving lives and property.
4. Compare and contrast the multiple operations which are conducted with a common goal in fire suppression environments and analyze use and assignment of all resources.
5. Operate safely and effectively as a team member of a wildland suppression operation.

Semester I – 9 units

WFT 101 Wildland Fire Behavior (3 units)

WFT 102 Wildland Firefighter Safety and Survival (3 units)

WFT 103 Wildland Fire Operations (Ground, Air) (3 units)

Semester II – 9 units

WFT 104 Wildland Fire Investigation, Prevention, and Public Information (3 units)

WFT 105 Wildland Fire Logistics, Finance, and Planning (3 units)

FIRE 001 Principles of Emergency Services (3 units)

or EMED 201 Emergency Medical Responder (3 units)

The Wildland Fire programs at Pasadena City College are growing at a remarkable pace and are poised to be a leader in this area. Future plans include a TYPE II hand crew consisting of fire technology students that may respond to fires throughout the continental United States. This crew would be tied to the Angeles National Forest and responded specifically to fires in Alaska, Texas, Utah, Colorado, Oregon and in California.

The addition of the AS option will now give our students the opportunity to earn their AS degree as they pursue this line of work. This AS/certificate program will continue to aid in the hiring of seasonal wildland firefighters.

The listed community college below is the only college within the service area with a Wildland Fire Technology Program. Moreover, this is a two-semester program which is markedly different than others that are 30 units. Wildland Fire Technology differs from the standard Fire Technology programs offered across the state in that this certificate program will be required of all newly hired US Forest Service firefighters.

Wildland fire technology is new area and there are only a few programs in California. Many colleges are offering wildland-specific courses that they have not placed under the new top code of 2133.10, rather they are listed under the traditional fire technology top code of 2133.00. Thus, many colleges do not have data to support the labor market (LMI), as they are not capturing the true data for this top code. The LMI data appears to be skewed and does not adequately present the hiring and need in California.

Based on labor market data provided, the Wildland Fire Technology program addresses the following EMP institutional mission priority strategies:

1. Engage in college-wide comprehensive curriculum design and redesign to ensure viable degree and certificate programs.
2. Collaborate with statewide agencies and partners to develop and/or sunset degree and certificate programs that are responsive to market needs.
3. Align all degrees and certificates with appropriate workforce demand.

This Certificate program was approved locally at 15 units, but we have since increased the Certificate to 18 units and included an AS degree as well.