NORTHERN PIEDMONT FIRE

Forest District # 17

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Physical Fitness

It it is very important to be Physically Fit to be a wildland firefighter. In order to be on a Support crew or the Specialized crew you will need to do an annual fitness test and pass.

There are three levels of the fitness test for Wildland Fire Fighters:

Arduous - This test is require in order to be on a FEDERAL fireline assignment (Red Card). You are required to WALK with a 45 pound pack and go 3 miles with 45 minutes.

Moderate - This test is require in order to be on a STATE fireline assignment (Support Crew). You are reqired to WALK with a 25 pound pack and go 2 miles in 30 minutes.

Light - This is for overhead personel that most only work in camps.

All of these tests are held in the early spring of each year. The red card test needs to be administator by the DCNR - Bureau of Forestry. The Moderate test can be administor by a Forest Fire Warden and is held one day during the week and once on a weekend. Dates for both these test are in March - April. Please check back for the current dates to be posted.

Attention Crew

Please call if you would like to make up the pack test!!

MARCH 15th and 29th, 2008 - DCNR Bureau of Forestry - Arduous fittness test will be held at French Creek State Park - in the parking area of the smiwing pool area. Times are from 0800 until 1500

Please remember to bring a pack pre-weight and be ready to go!!

Training Courses and Descriptions

Training Opportunities:

All crew personnel are encouraged to seek additional Fire Management Training, both in prescribed fire and in wildfire training. Listed below are several courses and workshops that are available: The Local Fire Warden will have periodic updates on these courses as will your local, state, and federal fire management agencies.

Red Card: This refers to a nationally standardized system for identifying minimally qualified fire suppression crewmembers. Requirements are completion of the courses S - 130 Basic Firefighting and S - 190 Introduction to Fire Behavior, and meeting the audus fittness level. Many agencies require Red Cards standards for prescribed fire crews. If you wish to gain burn experience by participating on public agency burns, you may be required to get a Red Card. Information on how to meet the requirements for a Red Card can be obtained from a Forest Fire Warden or the local office of your state or federal fire management agencies.

PA-130 Basic Wildland Firefighter: This 16-hour course is designed to train an individual as a basic wildland firefighter for Pennsylvania. This is a state certification course.

S-130 Firefighting Training: This course is required training for any personnel to obtain a red card (under the wildland qualification system). The purpose of these courses is to train new firefighters in basic firefighting skills.

S-190 Introduction To Wildland Fire Behavior: This course is designed to train firefighters in the basic fire behavior factors that will aid them in the safe and effective control of wildland fires.

S-131 Advanced Firefighter Training: This course builds upon previous training and experience

which includes safety and tactics. This course is needed to Qualify as a Squad Boss (FFT-2).

S-200 Initial Attack Incident Commander Type 4 (ICT4): This course is designed to provide the individual in charge of the initial attack of a small, non complex fires the training needed for readiness and mobilization, size-up of the fire; and the administrative requirements that must be completed by the incident commander.

S-211 Portable Pumps & Water Use: This course is designed to give trainees practical knowledge & application skills of portable pump operations.

S-230 Crew Boss (Single Resource): This is designed to meet the training needs of a crew boss on a wildland fire incident.

S-290 Intermediate Wildland Fire Behavior: is designed to meet training requirements to work as a Single Resource Boss. This is a “skills” course that is designed to instruct prospective fireline supervisors in wildland fire behavior for effective and safe fire management operations.

Additional Advance Wildfire and Prescribed Fire Training

S-390 Introduction To Wildland Fire Behavior Calculations: This course is a “skills” course that is designed to instruct prospective fireline supervisors in wildland fire behavior for effective and safe fire management operations. This course is designed for use throughout the United State. Fire environment difference is discussed. Instructors stress local and regional conditions.]

S-490 Advanced Wildland Fire Behavior Calculations: This course is designed to

teach prerequisite advanced fire behavior prediction skills for fire behavior analysts and those planning and executing prescribed fire. Examples and exercises in the course are split between wildfire and prescribed fire applications.

Rx-90 Prescribed Fire For Burn Bosses: This training is designed to train an individual as a Prescribed Fire Burn Boss. The training addresses the use of fire, fire effects, fire behavior for four specific fuel model groups, smoke management, planning operational criteria of burning and evaluating the results of a prescribed fire. RX-90 is an intensive, two-week course.

Rx-91 Monitoring Prescribed and Prescribed Natural Fire: This 5-day course prepares the trainee to monitor fire behavior and weather parameters during prescribed burns.

RX-230 Ignition Specialist: This course is designed to train Burn Bosses is ignition techniques and related fire devices used in prescribed fire.

RX-340 Introduction To Fire Effects: This course is designed to train an individual to recognize basic fire regimes, the effects of fire treatments on first order fire effects, and to manipulate fire treatments to achieve desired first order fire effects.

RX-450 Smoke Management Techniques: This course is designed to train the experienced Prescribed Fire Manager and Prescribed Fire Behavior Analyst in legal, professional and ethical reasons for managing smoke. Course emphasis is placed upon the “how to” techniques for minimizing smoke impacts and production, how to participate in the regulatory process, and the philosophical approach to smoke management.

The Nature Conservancy Workshop On Ecological Burning This workshop is an intensive, 7 to 10 day field courses where the participants have the opportunity to plan and conduct prescribed burns under the auspices of a cadre of experienced burn instructors. Classroom sessions cover such topics as: fire behavior prediction to meet ecological objectives, fire planning and prescription preparation, ignition techniques, managing the burn, computer prediction of fire behavior, and fire ecology.

I-100 Introduction to ICS:

I-200 Intermediate ICS:

L-180

L-280