The mission of the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) National Fire Training and Workforce Development Program is to develop the wildland firefighting workforce through qualification standards, training standards, and workforce development programs in support of BLM fire management objectives.
The purpose of fire training and workforce development qualifications is to develop firefighters who can fight fire effectively and safely, and who can manage complex wildland fire programs at the highest levels.
Although training is often associated with technical skills and education with professional knowledge, a successful firefighter must excel in both areas, mastering a wide range of technical skills and building a significant body of professional knowledge. An experienced firefighter’s skills and knowledge should range from fundamental suppression tactics to complex wildland fire management in challenging interagency environments.
All firefighters undergo similar entry-level training. This universal training provides all firefighters with a common background and skill set in the basic components of wildland fire management.
Fire training consists of curriculum-driven classroom studies; on-the-job training; individual and group workforce exchanges; formal and informal crew-level training; and knowledge and skills gained through experience.
The formal training curriculum covers the entire field of wildland fire, from basic suppression to management of large and complex fires. Fire and aviation operations, fire behavior and effects, risk management, leadership, logistics, planning, finance, and other subjects are part of the fire training curriculum.
On-the-job training is formally integrated into the fire training curriculum. Lessons learned in controlled classroom settings are practically applied in uncontrolled fire environments where performance is evaluated and documented by mentors.
Crew-level training is a critical component of effective wildland fire management. Crews train through the established curriculum, but also in many other ways, formal and informal. Every activity, from routine daily work to complex fire suppression operations, is a training opportunity; professional crews train and learn incessantly. The continuous training environment established by top crews amplifies the knowledge gained through experience.
Experience is the most critical aspect of fire training. A firefighter gains experience over time across a wide range of wildland fire environments and situations. Experience is enhanced as a training opportunity when it is critically reviewed and analyzed, even after success. After-action reviews, tailgate meetings, and accident investigations are all methods for evaluating recent experience and identifying opportunities to improve. Self-improvement is critical to the development of the professional firefighter.
Successful fire training and workforce development will develop the highly trained, skilled, and experienced firefighters and leaders essential to the future success of the BLM fire program.
Attached document published February 2023
The Bureau of Land Management in the US Dept. of the Interior sponsors many courses and workshops through a variety of training opportunities. Trails, recreation, land management, technical training, and public involvement are topics that are frequently covered. The BLM has also been a leader in establishing and developing the National Trails Training Partnership.
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A group of nationwide trail professionals representing federal agencies, trail nonprofits, and the private sector initiated this project to develop a common trail competency framework, focusing on enhancing professionalism as well as a higher level of skill.
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This manual has been written to aid crew leaders working with trail work volunteers. It assumes the following priorities, in order of importance, for every volunteer trail work event: 1) Safety, 2) Enjoyment, 3) Quality product, 4) Productivity.
Colorado Trail Foundation Crew Leader Handbook
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As a crew leader you represent the CTF. One of your main jobs is to convey the CTF’s thanks to the volunteers for their commitment to making and preserving The Colorado Trail as a national treasure.
Appalachian Mountain Club 2022 Outdoor Leader Handbook
posted Aug 17, 2022
Outdoor leadership skills can be developed and improved over time through a combination of self-study, formal training and experience. Leadership trainings are offered frequently by volunteers and staff of the AMC. The trainings range from a single day to a weekend. If you are looking for additional training, the AMC offers several courses each season through the Guided Outdoors program.
416 views • posted 10/13/2023
