Annual Wildland Fire Safety Refresher Training

Reference Materials

PAGE LINKS: Training Packages | Videos and Publications | Lessons Learned Center
NWCG - Safety and Health Working Team I Safety Essays

Season Forecasts and Predictive Services Products

Refresher training instructors should contact their Geographic Area Coordination Center Intelligence Officers and Meteorologists as well as Regional/State Fire Management Officers to obtain wildland fire potential assessments, seasonal forecasts and other appropriate information. Fire Danger Pocket Cards should be reviewed and discussed in conjunction with the selected predictive services products.

Training Packages

Fireline Safety Refresher 2008, The Changing Fire Environment
Time: approximately 3 hours
Objective: Provide refresher training on wildland firefighting safety guidelines.
Target: All fireline personnel
Product: Stand alone DVD/ VHS with facilitator guide and student workbook
Source: BLM Training Unit
http://www.blm.gov/nifc/st/en/prog/fire/training/fire_training/projects/refresher.html
Past refresher video topics can be found at:
http://www.blm.gov/style/medialib/blm/nifc/training/refresher.Par.63476.File.dat/Refresher_Topics.xls

Basic Firing Operation
Time: approximately 6 hours
Objective: Stand alone powerpoint with facilitator guide and student workbook
Target: Any firefighter with 1-5 seasons that has not taken S-234
Product: Custom Recording, Boise, ID, (208) 344-3535
Basic Firing Operation (ppt)
http://www.blm.gov/nifc/st/en/prog/fire/training/fire_training/projects/refresher/video.html

After Action Review Training Package (2006)
Time: 1-2 hours
Objective: Describes intent and techniques for AARs
Target: All red-carded personnel
Product: Stand alone course on DVD and CD-ROM
Source: Custom Recording, Boise, ID (208) 344-3535

The New Generation Fire Shelter (2003), PMS 411
Time: 2-4 hours
Objective: Demonstrate/practice the care and use of the new generation fire shelter.
Target: All red-carded personnel
Product: Video, supporting reference publication, DVD. Available in English and Spanish.
Source: NIFC-Great Basin Cache (refer to current Publication Catalog available at www.nwcg.gov/pms/pubs/pubs.htm)

Firefighter Safety in the Wildland/Urban Interface (2003)
Time: The 3 unit program is flexible enough to allow it to be delivered in segments of 2-3 hours each.
Objective: To provide thought provoking information to structural and wildland fire personnel whose responsibilities include wildland/urban interface fire incidents.
Target: Municipal and volunteer fire departments and wildland fire personnel with WUI responsibilities.
Product: Stand alone course with instructor guide, a set of 3 videotapes and computer based presentation that can be instructor lead or self paced for the individual student.
Source: Firewise Publication Catalog at www.firewise.org

Entrapment Avoidance - It's Your Call! (2002)
Time: 2-3 hours
Objectives: Examine the factors that determine effectiveness of escape routes and safety zones. Examine the decision processes for engagement on the fireground.
Target: First line fireground decision makers such as Single Resource Boss, Task Force Leader, or Incident Commander Type 3/4/5
Product: Stand-alone course on CD-ROM
Source: Custom Recording, Boise, ID (208) 344-3535
Entrapment (ppt)

Wildland Fire - Safety on the Fireline (2002), PMS 493
Time: 3-4 hours
Objective: Provide refresher training on wildland firefighting safety guidelines.
Target: All fireline personnel
Product: Self-study computer based training on CD-ROM
Source: PMS 493, NIFC-Great Basin Cache (refer to current Publication Catalog available at www.nwcg.gov/pms/pubs/pubs.htm)

Your Fire Shelter (2001), PMS 409
Time: 2-4 hours
Objective: Demonstrate/practice the care and use of the "old style" fire shelter.
Target: All red-carded personnel
Product: Video and supporting reference publication
Source: NIFC-Great Basin Cache (refer to current Publication Catalog available at www.nwcg.gov/pms/pubs/pubs.htm)

L-180, Human Factors on the Fireline (2000)
Time: 4-5 hours
Objective: Awareness of human performance considerations in high-risk work environments.
Target: All fireline personnel
Product: Stand alone course
Source: NIFC-Great Basin Cache (refer to current Publication Catalog available at www.nwcg.gov/pms/pubs/pubs.htm)

Lessons Learned: Fatality Fire Case Studies (1998), PMS 490
Time: 9 case studies / each requires about 2 hours
Objective: Determine lessons learned from historical fatality fire scenarios using risk management as an analysis tool.
Target: Fireline decision makers (FFT1 or higher)
Product: Stand alone course
Source: NIFC-Great Basin Cache (refer to current Publication Catalog available at www.nwcg.gov/pms/pubs/pubs.htm)

Look Up, Look Down, Look Around (1992), PMS 427
Time: 3-4 hours
Objective: Recognize critical fire behavior indicators.
Target: All fireline personnel
Product: Stand alone course
Source: NIFC-Great Basin Cache (refer to current Publication Catalog available at www.nwcg.gov/pms/pubs/pubs.htm)

The Campbell Prediction System (1991)
Time: 8 hours
Objective: Anticipate when and where fire behavior potential is different.
Target: All fireline personnel
Product: Vendor instructor delivered course
Source: Campbell Wildland Fire Specialists, Ojai, CA (805) 646-7026
www.dougsfire.com/new_wildland.htm

Videos and Publication Sources

NWCG Publications Management System
Great Basin Cache - National Interagency Fire Center
Check the annual NWCG NFES Catalog Part 2: Publications for current items, prices, and ordering procedures. The catalog (and any relevant updates) may be found at:
www.nwcg.gov/pms/pubs/catalog/catalog.pdf

USDA Forest Service
Missoula Technology & Development Center
5785 Highway 10 W
Missoula, MT 59808
406-329-3978
2008 updated fire shelter information from MTDC
NOTE: Publications may now be accessed on the MTDC/San Dimas website at: www.fs.fed.us/t-d -- A username and password is required to access the site. Username: t-d and Password: t-d. A wide variety of valuable references may be obtained from this site by selecting T&D Pubs and then selecting Fire or Safety and Health. A few examples are listed below:

Your Hardhat: Inspection and Maintenance
Feeding the Wildland Firefighter
Crew Cohesion, Wildland Fire Transition and Fatalities
Wildland Firefighter Health and Safety Report: No. 11
New Fire Shelter Training Materials
Flagging for Firefighting Escape Routes and Safety Zones
Improving Firefighter Safety in the Wildland/Urban Intermix
Transporting Aluminum Fuel Bottles Inside Aircraft

Lessons Learned Center

Wildland Fire Lessons Learned Center website

After Action Review Rollups

Interagency Reviews and Investigations Database

Video productions available from the Wildland Fire Lessons Learned Center
Contact the Wildland Fire Lessons Learned Center at pnasiaka@fs.fed.us or dchristenson@fs.fed.us to obtain a DVD or VHS copy of these productions. Be sure to give your complete mailing address. There is no cost for single copies while supplies last.

Managing the Unexpected Series - includes three programs: Overview of High Reliability Organizations (50 minutes), Return to Cerro Grande (1 hour), and Overcoming Your Immunity to Change (20 minutes) 2005
Dude Fire Staff Ride (30 minutes) - re-release from 1998 Fire Behavior Analyst workshop 2005
Burn Boss Stories (40 and 20 minute versions) - learning from veteran burn bosses 2005
Rx Fire and Fire Use Lessons Learned (1 hour) - experiences of veteran fire management officers 2005
Building a More Effective Learning Organization (1 hour and 30 minutes versions) - organizational learning in wildland fire featuring Learning in Action, author David Garvin 2005
Decision Making for Prescribed Fire and Fire Use Managers (1 hour) - effective decision making featuring Learning in Action, author David Garvin 2005
Fire Effect Monitoring Stories (30 and 15 minute versions) - learning from experienced interagency fire effects monitors 2004