Course Description - FCAU Fire Chemical Application and Use

Tentatively scheduled for March 16 -20, 2009.

Target Group

• Incident Commanders-All
• Fire Staff Officers
• Operations Section Chiefs
• Division Group Supervisors
• Strike Team Leaders/Task Force Leaders
• Air Tactical Group Supervisors
• Air Operations Branch Directors
• Airtanker Coordinators
• Air Support Group Supervisors

Objectives

Upon completion of this course, participants will:

• Identify the key elements that provide the aerial retardant resource to the user including the historical, administrative, and technical framework.
• Improve application and use of aerial applied retardants and suppressants with the use of state-of-the-art technology.
• Provide decision criteria to better manage aerial firefighting systems on wildland fire.
• Describe the potential environmental and social political impacts with the use of aerial fire chemicals.

Course Description

The course is designed primarily for incident personnel on-the-ground who are making the application decisions and managing the results. The tactical aviation personnel involved in application of retardants and suppressants will also benefit from this course.

Throughout the course, the safe, efficient, and cost-effective use of these products is stressed. Safety factors are discussed throughout, using decision-making on the fireground and systems management as a basis. The course will use lecture, case studies, practitioner panels, exercises, and participant interaction. The course consists of three units covering the historical development of the retardant and suppressant program through the current programs in use, concentrating on the operational application of retardants and suppressants in a variety of wildland fire situations. Environmental effects and considerations are also discussed.

Important Dates

Nominations Due: November 1, 2008
Notification of Selection: November 15, 2008

Nomination Process

Please see the NAFRI nomination process available at http://nafri.gov/pages/nominationprocess.htm.

Course Coordinator: Tim Peterson, (520) 799-8757; fax (520) 799-8785