FIRE 152 - Wildland Fire Control Methods

Course Description

  • Prerequisite or Corequisite: FIRE 151

Introduction to wildland fire suppression field 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.

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