Fuels and Prescribed Fire Applications

Students successfully completing the outlined course of study will gain the knowledge and skill advancement in the application of fuels management tactics and prescribed fire concepts. These students will be prepared to enter the workforce as a fuels/vegetation management technician, wildland firefighter or fuels reduction crewmember. Students will receive in depth instruction in the areas of prescribed fire planning and implementation, managed fire, hazardous fuels reduction, forest fuels assessments, prescribed fire systems and databases, human factors effecting human performance, chainsaw operations, hand tool use, prescribed fire and fuels reduction operations and federal physical readiness standards. Training will require arduous working conditions similar to those performed as a wildland firefighter. In addition, students who complete the course will receive essential certificates from the National Wildfire Coordinating Group curriculum which will enhance knowledge-base and future advancement opportunities within the industry. Students will be expected to operate in a physically demanding workplace like environment where safety and skills are emphasized. Due to the requirements for federal and state employment both physical and other applicable prerequisites may be required.

Anticipate 20 annual completers.

The Prescribed Fire and Fuels Applications program trains students for Land Management Agency Fuels programs and Utility Forestry Vegetation Management fields. The Reedley College Prescribed Fire and Fuels Applications Program is a stackable certificate that builds on the Wildland Fire School Fundamentals Academy coursework and Forestry Technician, Fire suppression and Wildland Fire Advancement Certificate. In addition, the program offers a pathway for industry professionals that are seeking advancement training to enter into the program utilizing coursework and work experience equivalencies. Students who complete the Prescribed Fire and Fuels Applications program will acquire practical project-based technician skill, academic theory and industry knowledge required in the field of fuels management prescribed fire application and utility forestry. The Academy training approach is rooted in applied implementation lessons where the students are first trained in the classroom then are prepared in the wildland environment that incorporates project scenarios and proficiency drills. 60-70 percent of the training hours will be in the field utilizing the forest at Sequoia Lakes, State and National Forest as well as, various cooperative local agency projects. In conjunction with industry cooperators, students enrolled in the Prescribed Fire and Fuels Applications Program will also have exposure to industry professionals and exclusive employment opportunities with local agencies. Topics covered in the Prescribed Fire and Fuels Applications Program will include:

· Applied prescribed fire and fuels strategies

· Managed fire for resource benefit

· Fuels treatment lay out and implementation

· Fuels project sequencing

· Fire effects

· Forestry Equipment operations

· Communication and briefings

· Leadership, followership and discipline

· Physical conditioning

· Decision making and readiness

This proposed course is in line with the Master Plan at Reedley College. Also, it matches the State Center Community College Districts Master Plan Goal 4 of Economic and Workforce Development by offering access to quality career technical programs.

Currently the Natural Resources Wildland Fire Program consists of a strong Wildland Fire Technician CTE pathway. There has been an increased need to advance the preparedness of the students in the field of wildland fire and fuels management to better meet the need of the state industry beyond the basic suppression training. There is currently a large demand for technically skilled suppression and fuels reduction technicians within federal fire service as well as in state and local conservation corps and utility forestry. There is currently a large demand for technicians statewide.

The Natural Resources Wildland Fire Program utilizes the college’s program review process for program monitoring and improvement. In addition to the program review process, the program meets at least twice annually with its industry-based advisory committee to discuss the enhancement of the instructional program and industry/workplace needs. Often discussions focus on forestry and technician needs and the skills students need to attain to obtain gainful employment.
The Integrated Fuels Management Program offers students with a unique opportunity to obtain enhancement training coursework and experience making them eligible for the competitive application of state agency fuels crewmember jobs, federal fuels crewmember jobs and utility forestry and vegetation management jobs.