Course Descriptions

FIRE 152 - Wildland Fire Control Field Methods

• Prerequisite or Corequisite: FIRE 151

Introduction to wildland fire suppression fi eld strategies, tactics and techniques. The course is structured around hands-on training in an outdoor environment. Students are familiarized with tools, techniques and how to best apply them in the wildland fire context.

6 hrs. lect. per week

Student Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of FIRE 152, the student will be able to:

• Identify human performance that relates to the individual, including situation awareness, communication, decision making, risk management, and teamwork skills
• Identify human performance issues on the fireline so that individual firefighters can integrate more effectively into teams/crews working in dynamic, high risk environments
• Demonstrate the ability to utilize the Fireline Handbook and Incident Response Pocket Guide as fireline references, and demonstrate the ability to apply the information to given fire situations
• Properly identify information which should be documented, and list ways to ensure communication is complete and accurate
• Correctly describe the steps required to properly size-up the fire situation upon arrival and throughout a fire assignment
• Properly describe the appropriate tactics to safely complete an assignment
• Correctly identify a changing situation in the fire environment, and demonstrate the ability to modify tactics
• Correctly describe the differences between a safety zone and a deployment zone
• Correctly identify deteriorating conditions in the fire environment and explain why an assignment cannot be safely completed
• Correctly list the 7 fire environment factors to monitor on the fireline
• Correctly discuss how fuel characteristics and fuel moisture determine potential fire intensity and spread
• Correctly discuss how atmospheric stability can change frequently and how to recognize both unstable and stable air mass
• Correctly identify observable stages of fire behavior and how those observations may be used to help you predict or anticipate problem fire behavior
• Correctly demonstrate proper use of a compass, and how to determine latitude and longitude coordinates
• Demonstrate the practical knowledge of portable pump operations to include: proper safety equipment, proper fuel mix, advantages and disadvantages of various pumps, and knowledge of water hydraulics
• Properly demonstrate the assembly, utilization and disassembly of a portable pump
• Correctly identify the What, Why and How of the Incident Command System to include the following; common terminology, management by objectives, unified command, incident action plan, and span of control
• Correctly identify the basic knowledge and skills required by individuals who work with helicopters
• Correctly identify how to obtain and use information to determine the probable cause of a wildland fire including: obtaining information while traveling to a fire, locating and securing the probable ignition location, identifying witnesses, documenting any finding and presenting information to a wildland fire investigator
• Identify and effectively utilize Lookouts, Communications, Escape Routes, and Safety Zones (LCES) during field operations