Wildland Firefighter
The Wildland Firefighter Type 2 training offered through TrainND Southwest is an industry-led program designed to prepare students to enter the firefighting industry classified as a Firefighter Type 2. Students will be introduced to incident command systems (ICS), human factors in wildland fire service, firefighter training, wildland fire behavior, and national incident management systems (NIMS).
If you enjoy working in the outdoors and have an interest in firefighting, the Wildland Firefighter training is a rewarding career option. This certificate program can lead into a career as a wildland firefighter with Federal and State land managing agencies and private contracting businesses. It will provide you with the skills and knowledge necessary for the entry level wildland firefighter position. By combining classroom instruction with hands-on training, with an emphasis on field operations and tactics, we will equip you with knowledge required of an entry level wildland firefighter.
Course Objectives
- Introduce human performance factors in high-risk work environments and add this knowledge to your skill set.
- Describe the purpose of the Standard Firefighting Orders, Watch
- Out Situations, and Lookouts, Communications, Escape Routes and Safety Zones (LCES).
- Describe and identify NIMS and Incident Command System (ICS and how they relate to each other.
- Describe the standards, tools and equipment, and various methods used in fireline construction.
- Describe the methods for extinguishing a fire with or without the use of water.
- Demonstrate the ability to construct fireline to required standard using various methods, tools and equipment, and techniques.
- Describe the basic terminology used in wildland fire.
- Identify and discuss key characteristics of the primary wildland fire environment components - fuels, weather, and topography.
- Identify critical fire weather factors that, combined with receptive fuels, may result in extreme fire behavior.
- Recognize how alignment of fuels, weather, and topography can increase the potential for extreme fire behavior.
- Identify and describe the characteristics of communications and information systems, effective communication, incident information, and communication standards and formats.
Course Commitment
The Wildland Firefighter training is a 53 1/2-hour training to include 40 hours of in-person training, 5 1/2 hours of online training, and an 8-hour field day.
Students should be comfortable with manual labor and working outdoors. Basic math skills will be required. Familiarity with essential tools and pieces of equipment may be beneficial. Duties involve fieldwork requiring physical performance calling for above-average endurance and superior conditioning. These duties may include an occasional demand for extraordinarily strenuous activities in emergencies under adverse environmental conditions and over extended periods of time. Requirements include running, walking, climbing, jumping, twisting, bending, and lifting more than 50 pounds; the pace of work typically is set by the emergency situation. Job applicants will be required to pass a drug screen.
Course Investment
$199 tuition includes all classroom materials and equipment use. The following expenses are the financial responsibility of the student: lodging and travel, clothes suitable to work in outdoor conditions, a computer or tablet for online learning, and a notebook along with a pen/pencil.
Partnering agencies include the US Fish & Wildlife, USDA, National Park Service, ND Emergency Management, ND Forest Service, The Nature Conservancy, and the Bureau of Indian Affairs.
Wildland Firefighter training is a short-term, non-credit program; therefore, TrainND Southwest does not offer financial aid or tuition assistance. Students may qualify for funding from state and federal agencies. Contact us by email atbsc.training@bismarckstate.edu or by calling us at (701) 224-5600 to learn more.
This course is approved for funding from the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA). WIOA funding is designed to provide training for unemployment and some underemployed individuals to gain in-demand career skills. To inquire about eligibility, utilize the following resources:
Learn more about the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA)
Course Prerequisites
The following is required for course registration:
- Must be at least 18 years old with a valid driver’s license
- Be able to read, write, and speak English well enough to speak with co-workers and the public, respond to official inquiries, and make entries on reports and records
- A computer or tablet for online learning
Course Schedule and Size
The in-person training begins Monday, September 30, 2024, ending Friday, October 11, 2024. Class will meet each Monday through Friday from 2 PM to 6 PM on the BSC campus. The online training must be completed prior to coming to campus for training and students are expected to present their completion certificates to the instructor on the first day. Training will conclude with a field exercise October 12 or upon completion of the in-person training. Registration closes September 23, 2024.
The program is limited to 24 students in each training option. Enrollment is based on a first-come, first-served basis. Waiting lists are established once classes have met maximum enrollment. Class does not meet on state-recognized holidays. Some exceptions may apply and those will be outlined by the instructor. Contact TrainND Southwest for course availability at 701-224-5600.
Registration Requirements
Register online at registeratbsc.com or in-person at Bismarck State College National Energy Center of Excellence, 1200 Schafer Street, Room 107. Students will need a FEMA student identification system ID to access the online FEMA trainings. The link to creating an account will be shared with students upon registration and closer to the start date of the course.
Refund Policy
Students must contact the BSC Continuing Education office at least ten (10) business days prior to the course start date to request are fund at (701) 224-5600. If a student cancels less than ten (10) business days prior to the start of the course, the entire registration fee is forfeited. Full refunds are guaranteed if BSC Continuing Education cancels a course.
All approved refunds are made by mail unless paid with a credit card or electronic check in which case the card or account is credited. Please allow three (3) weeks to process refunds.