Training Topics Introduction |
The objective of the topics page is to highlight and guide individuals through topics that are mandatory per your agency direction on Annual Fireline Safety Refresher training. Refer to the links below.
The training topics web page is broken into Core Topics and Supplemental Topics. Core topics are those topics identified by interagency fire mangers as topics that are mandatory core content subjects and should be emphasized when facilitating Annual Fireline Safety Refresher. Supplemental topics are links to publications, websites, and other instructional material that will assist in the training development.
If you are unsure of your agencies requirements for annual fire refresher training, it is important to research your agencies guidance. For more information, view the Policy Statements.
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Core Topics (as recommended by the NWCG) |
Current
Issues
Review National Emphasis Topic, Hot Topics, forecasts and assessments for the upcoming fire season and discuss implications for firefighter safety.
Suggested time frame = 1 to 2 hours
National Emphasis Topic
Hot
Topics
Forecasts and Seasonal Assessment Links
National Interagency Coordination Center (NICC)
The National Interagency Coordination Center is the focal point for coordinating the mobilization of resources for wildland fire and other incidents throughout the United States. This website is a good source of information pertaining to national and geographical seasonal assessments.
http://www.nifc.gov/nicc/index.htm
National Predictive Services Group (NPSG)
The National Predictive Services Group provides leadership and direction for Predictive Services.
http://www.predictiveservices.nifc.gov/intelligence/intelligence.htm
National Fire Danger Rating System (NFDRS), nationally or by geographic area
http://www.nifc.gov/nicc/predictive/fuels_fire-danger/fuels_fire-danger.htm
Predictive Services links by state
http://www.nifc.gov/nicc/predictive/statelinks.htm
Avoiding
Entrapments
Use training
and reference materials to study the risk management process and
rules of engagement contained in the green pages of the Incident
Response Pocket Guide, January 2006 edition (PMS # 461, NFES #1077).
Suggested
time frame = 2 to 4 hours
Entrapment Avoidance (ppt)
Incident
Response Pocket Guide NFES #1077
Interagency Standards for Fire and Aviation Operations (Red Book), 2008 edition (Ch 7)
http://www.nifc.gov/policies/red_book/2008/Ch07Safety.pdf
Common Denominators (ppt)
Avoid the Flames
http://www.fs.fed.us/fire/safety/MTDC_Lessons/documents/Avoid_Flames/index.htm
Fire
Shelter
Review and discuss last-resort survival and how to conduct "hands-on" fire shelter inspections. Practice shelter deployments in applicable crew/module configurations. Past and current publications can be downloaded to assist the instructors cover a wide variety of topics to deal with fire shelter training and issues.
Suggested time frame = 1.5 to 2.5 hours
2008 fire shelter update
http://www.nifc.gov/wfstar/archives/fire_shelter.html
NIFC fire shelter web page
http://www.nifc.gov/safety/fire_shelter.htm
Fire shelter transition dates to the new generation fire shelter.
NFAEB Fire Shelter Transition Update, June 20, 2007
Federal agencies: end of calendar year (January 1, 2009)
State and private cooperators: end of calendar year (January 1, 2010)
Firefighters Concerned About Fire Shelter Length
Link to fire shelter information posted on USFS Fire and Aviation Management website
http://www.fs.fed.us/fire/safety/shelter/shelter_index.html
Fire Shelter Deployment - Avoid the Flames
http://www.fs.fed.us/fire/safety/shelter/deployment/deploy.html
History of the development of the fire shelter
http://www.wildlandfire.com/docs/2003_n_before/fire_shelter_history.htm
Missoula Technology and Development Center (MTDC)
MTDC is a detached unit of the Washington Office engineering organization. MTDC supports the US Forest Service and cooperating agencies by creating tools and processes based on proposals.
http://www.fs.fed.us/t-d/
Important: a user name and password are required to enter this website.
Username: t-d
Password: t-d
Entrapment/Deployment information
Fireline Handbook, PMS 410-1 (March 2004), Ch 1, pg 40-47
http://www.nwcg.gov/pms/pubs/410-1/chapter01.pdf
Fire Shelter Training Aids
In order to assist firefighters with a more realistic fire shelter training experience, MTDC has produced a short video and flyer describing more clearly how to refold the practice fire shelter. Using early refresher training classes as test subjects, firefighters were able to refold and rebag their practice shelter with relatively no problems. The video and flyer can be found at:
www.fs.fed.us/t-d/programs/fire/new_gen.htm (user name: t-d, password: t-d)
Other
Hazards and Safety Issues
Choose topics
from the supplemental topic list below based on the needs of the
specific training audience.
Suggested time
frame = 1.5 to 3 hours
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Supplemental
Topics |
Fire
Operations
2006 Federal Fire and Aviation Operations Action Plan
http://www.nifc.gov/nicc/administrative/nmac/strategy/NMAC_Apx_1.pdf
Interagency Preparedness Review Checklists (revised in 2006)
http://www.nifc.gov/references/prep_review.html
- Basic Firing Operation CD (Sponsored by the Interagency Hotshot Steering Committee)
http://www.nifc.gov/wfstar/hottopics/basic_firing_ops.html
- Initial attack
size-up and report on conditions
Incident Response Pocket Guide (IRPG), PMS 461, January 2006
Refer to inside of the front cover.
http://www.nwcg.gov/pms/pubs/nfes1077/nfes1077.pdf
- Transfer
of command from initial attack and/or extended attack
Fireline Handbook, PMS 410-1, March 2004 (Ch 5, pg 125-134)
http://www.nwcg.gov/pms/pubs/410-1/chapter05.pdf
Interagency Standards for Fire and Aviation Operations, 2008 edition
Incident Management, Ch 11, Transfer of Command (pg 13)
http://www.nifc.gov/policies/red_book/2008/Ch11IncMgmt.pdf
Incident Response Pocket Guide (IRPG), PMS 461, January 2006
Refer to inside of back cover.
http://www.nwcg.gov/pms/pubs/nfes1077/nfes1077.pdf
- Structure
protection and Wildland Urban Interface (WUI) Watchouts
Fireline Handbook, PMS 410-1, March 2004 (Ch 6, pg 136-144/ Ch 1, pg 9)
http://www.nwcg.gov/pms/pubs/410-1/chapter06.pdf / http://www.nwcg.gov/pms/pubs/410-1/chapter01.pdf
Incident Response Pocket Guide, PMS 461, January 2006
http://www.nwcg.gov/pms/pubs/nfes1077/nfes1077.pdf
Green section, Wildland-Urban Interface Watchouts (pg 11)
Green section, Structure Assessment Checklist (pg 14-15)
Green section, Structure Protection Guidelines (pg 16)
Yellow section, Structural Triage and Search Assessment Markings (pg 30)
S-215 Unit 7, Safety (ppt)
- Direct vs. Indirect strategies
Incident Response Pocket Guide, PMS 461, January 2006
http://www.nwcg.gov/pms/pubs/nfes1077/nfes1077.pdf
Green section, Direct Attack (pg 9)
Green section, Indirect Attack (pg 10)
Fireline Handbook, PMS 410-1, March 2004 (Ch 2, pg 91-93)
http://www.nwcg.gov/pms/pubs/410-1/chapter02.pdf
- Downhill
line construction
Fireline Handbook, PMS 410-1, March 2004 (Ch 1, pg 17-18)
http://www.nwcg.gov/pms/pubs/410-1/chapter01.pdf
Incident Response Pocket Guide, PMS 461, January 2006
http://www.nwcg.gov/pms/pubs/nfes1077/nfes1077.pdf
Green section, Downhill Checklist (pg 8)
- General Operations Guide
Fireline Handbook, PMS 410-1, March 2004 (Appendix A)
http://www.nwcg.gov/pms/pubs/410-1/appendixA.pdf
- After Action Reviews (AAR)
Link to "Conducting Effective After Action Reviews"
http://www.fireleadership.gov/toolbox/documents/AAR_training_package.html
Fire Behavior
- Fire environment
factors
Incident Response Pocket Guide, PMS 461, January 2006
http://www.nwcg.gov/pms/pubs/nfes1077/nfes1077.pdf
Green section, Look Up, Look Down, Look All Around (pg 2-3)
- Characteristics
of extreme fire behavior
Fireline Handbook, PMS 410-1, March 2004 (Ch 1, pg 17-18)
http://www.nwcg.gov/pms/pubs/410-1/chapter01.pdf
Incident Response Pocket Guide, PMS 461, January 2006
http://www.nwcg.gov/pms/pubs/nfes1077/nfes1077.pdf
White section, Severe Fire Behavior Potential (pg 76)
- Common denominators
of fatality fires
Incident Response Pocket Guide, PMS 461, January 2006
http://www.nwcg.gov/pms/pubs/nfes1077/nfes1077.pdf
Green section, Common Denominators of Fire Behavior on Tragedy Fires (pg 4)
Fireline Handbook, PMS 410-1, March 2004 (Ch 1, pg 19)
http://www.nwcg.gov/pms/pubs/410-1/chapter01.pdf
- Use of belt
weather kit
Link to "Taking Good Weather Observations"
http://www.nifc.gov/wfstar/archives/weatherobs.html
Air
Operations
- How Can We Improve Aviation Safety?
http://www.nifc.gov/wfstar/hottopics/aviation_resources.html
- Interagency Helicopter Operations Guide (IHOG), NFES 1885, March 2006
http://www.nifc.gov/ihog
- Interagency Helicopter Rappel Guide
http://amd.nbc.gov/library/handbooks/ihrg.pdf
- Long-line
and sling-load currency
Fire and Aviation Management Qualifications Handbook (Ch 20, pg 64)
http://www.fs.fed.us/cgi-bin/Directives/get_dirs/fsh?5109.17!.
Incident Response Pocket Guide, PMS 461, January 2006
http://www.nwcg.gov/pms/pubs/nfes1077/nfes1077.pdf
Blue section, Longline Mission (pg 53)
- Helicopter Short-Haul
http://amd.nbc.gov/library/handbooks/shorthaul_hb.pdf
- Helispot
selection and construction
Fireline Handbook, PMS 410-1, March 2004 (Appendix A)
http://www.nwcg.gov/pms/pubs/410-1/appendixA.pdf
Incident Response Pocket Guide, PMS 461, January 2006
http://www.nwcg.gov/pms/pubs/nfes1077/nfes1077.pdf
Blue section, One-way Helispot (pg 54)
Blue section, Two-way Helispot (pg 55)
- Directing
helicopter bucket drops
Incident Response Pocket Guide, PMS 461, January 2006
http://www.nwcg.gov/pms/pubs/nfes1077/nfes1077.pdf
Blue section, Directing Retardant and Bucket Drops (pg 61)
- Principles
of retardant use
Fireline Handbook, PMS 410-1, March 2004 (Ch 2, pg 100)
http://www.nwcg.gov/pms/pubs/410-1/chapter02.pdf
Link to SAFECOM website
http://www.safecom.gov
Safety Communique Form (SAFECOM)
http://www.safecom.gov/safecom_form_instr.pdf
- Basic Aviation Safety (ppt)
- Basic Aviation Safety User Guide (doc)
Firefighter
Health
- Link to Hazardous Material training aids
http://www.nifc.gov/wfstar/archives/hazmat.html
- Links to MTDC Wildland Firefighter Health and Safety Reports, #8-11
Wildland Firefighter Health and Safety Report: No. 11 (2007) (pdf)
Wildland Firefighter Health and Safety Report: No. 10 (2006) (pdf)
Wildland Firefighter Health and Safety Report: No. 9 (2005) (pdf)
Wildland Firefighter Health and Safety Report: No. 8 (2004) (pdf)
Reports 1-7 are archived on the MTDC website.
- Fatigue countermeasures
Work and Fatigue in Wildland Firefighting, Steven Gaskill, Ph.D.(pdf)
Guidlelines for Monitoring and Enhancing Recovery from Accumulated Fatigue (pdf)
Fatigue: Signs and Countermeasures (pdf)
Signs of Fatigue (pdf)
Additional Fatigue Countermeasures (pdf)
- Fitness
FireFit website
http://www.nifc.gov/FireFit/index.htm
Fireline Fitness - Are you "FireFit" through the winter?
http://www.fs.fed.us/fire/safety/council/newsletters/november/november_index.html
- Heat stress
and dehydration countermeasures
US Forest Service Fire and Aviation Management website
http://www.fs.fed.us/fire/safety/fitness/heat_stress/hs_pg1.html
Incident Response Pocket Guide, PMS 461, January 2006
http://www.nwcg.gov/pms/pubs/nfes1077/nfes1077.pdf
Red section, Specific Treatments (pg 38)
- Smoke and
countermeasures
Smoke Management Guide for Prescribed and Wildland Fire, 2001 edition
http://www.nwcg.gov/pms/pubs/SMG/1-58.pdf
Fireline Handbook, PMS 410-1, March 2004 (Ch 1, pg 31-33)
http://www.nwcg.gov/pms/pubs/410-1/chapter01.pdf
- Lightning
countermeasures
Incident Response Pocket Guide, PMS 461, January 2006
http://www.nwcg.gov/pms/pubs/nfes1077/nfes1077.pdf
White section, Thunderstorm Safety (pg 75)
Fireline Handbook, PMS 410-1, March 2004 (Ch 1, pg 19)
http://www.nwcg.gov/pms/pubs/410-1/chapter01.pdf
National Lightning Safety Institute
Lightning damage photos
- Hazard tree
countermeasures
Brochure (can be printed on hardstock)
Hazard Trees - An Interactive Study (ppt file)
Interagency Hazard Tree JHA Template
- Poison oak, ivy, and sumac countermeasures (doc)
Transporting
Firefighters
- National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov
- Best Driving Practices
http://www.nifc.gov/wfstar/archives/driving_safety.htm
- Safe Driving
Practices
Six Minutes for Safety Topic, "Driving Safety"
http://www.nifc.gov/sixminutes/dsp_discussion.php?id=172
- Helicopter
loading/unloading procedures
Interagency Helicopter Operations Guide (IHOG), March 2006 (Ch 10, pg 10-4 - 10-7)
http://www.nifc.gov/ihog/chapters/2006chapter10.pdf
- Driving regulations
Interagency Standards for Fire and Aviation Operations, 2008 edition
Safety, Ch 7, Driving Standards (pg 07-5)
http://www.nifc.gov/policies/red_book/2008/Ch07Safety.pdf
Interagency Incident Business Management Handbook, PMS 902, April 2004
Chapter 10, Personnel, 12.7-1a, Incident Operations Driving
http://www.nwcg.gov/pms/pubs/IIBMH2/chapter10_sec11-13-5.pdf
- Transporting
Hazardous Materials (aircraft transportation)
Interagency Helicopter Operations Guide (IHOG), NFES 1885, March 2006
http://www.nifc.gov/ihog/
- Transporting Hazardous Materials (ground transportation)
Interagency Transportation Guide for Gasoline, Mixed Gas, Drip Torch Fuel, and Diesel
http://www.fs.fed.us/t-d/fueltran/guidance/index.htm
(Important notice: This guide has not yet been approved, but can be used as a draft guide.)
Safety Communications
Wildland Fire Communications website
http://www.fireradios.net/
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