Fire and Fuels Technician

This certificate in meant to prepare students to work in fire and fuels management with an emphasis on the application of prescribed fire. Students will learn the fundaments of forestry and fire ecology as well as skills needed to effectively plan for safe fire application. Students will also have the option to gain National Wildfire Coordinating Group (NWCG)certifications in fire-fighter basic training, wildland fire chainsaw use, portable pumps water use, incident command system training, intermediate wildland fire behavior and firing operations, etc.

The Fire and Fuels Technician Certificate provides students with hands-on and science-based education about the management of landscape fuels and the safe and appropriate use of applied fire to manage fire-adapted ecosystems. At the completion of this certificate, students will meet the requirements to gain employment as a Forestry or Fuels Technician (GS-4) as well as wildland firefighter for the US Forest Service, and likewise also meet the requirements to work as a field technician for other local, state, or federal agencies, as well as some private businesses and non-profits.

The courses required for this certificate include traditional, classroom-based educational components, but also emphasize laboratory and field components, which provide students with hands-on experience in order to expose them to industry professionals and to help prepare them for jobs in this sector. Students will gain National Wildfire Coordinating Group (NWCG) certificates in wildland fire skills that will allow them to participate in federal and state burns. Students should be able to complete the courses for the program in one year. The program exists as a new local Certificate of Specialization at Feather River College in 2022, but we hope to transition the program to a state-recognized Certificate of Achievement, that will reward students for the work they put in by awarding them a transcribable certificate.  

This certificate includes core and elective requirements as captured in the table below.