Wildland Fire Technology

Wildland Fire Technology – Certificate of Achievement

Top Code: 2133.10

This certificate program will provide the student with training in hand crew formation, fire line construction, and the use of wild land equipment. The behavior of fires, protective clothing, and wild land fire tools will also be addressed.  The Wildland Fire Technology Certificate program is for those students who desire to gain an understanding of wild land 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 wild land firefighter.  Selection is based on an interview and testing process which also includes passing a required physical and pack test.​

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

We anticipate the number of students to earn certificate annually will begin at 10-15 and increase with awareness of the program.

Projected annual completers: 10-15

1. Identify the required wildland fire operations, protocols, standard operating procedures, practices and wildland techniques to prepare them for employment with CDF, 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 Wild Land 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.

The purpose of the Wildland Fire Technology program is to prepare students for employment with the US Forest Service, California Department of Forestry, and for a position with a municipal fire department. Those students that are currently employed as firefighters may take these courses to update their knowledge and skills on current Wild land firefighting tactics, and to expand their employment opportunities. These classes will also meet National Wildland Coordinating Group requirements in many areas and student certification will enhance hiring opportunity and promotional advancement.  Successful completion of this program also meets employment standards for seasonal (year-to-year) work with the US Forest Service.

Course	Title	Units	Year/Semester (Y1 or S1)
WFT 101	Wildland Fire Behavior	3	S1
WFT 102	Wildland Fire Safety and Survival	3	S1
WFT 103	Wildland Fire Operations (Ground Air)	3	S1
WFT 104	Wildland Fire Investigation, Prevention, and Public Information	3	S2
WFT 105	Wildland Fire Logistics, Finance, and Planning	3	S2

Pasadena City College is in the planning stages of having a Wildland Fire Academy. 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 US Forest Service had over 1100 new positions in 2022. They didn’t meet their hiring quota in 2022. Some of this was due to people not meeting the hiring requirements. This certificate program will aid in the hiring of seasonal wildland firefighters.

The listed community college below is the only college with a Wildland Fire Technology Program. 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. Rio Hondo Wildland Fire Technology

10-15

N/A