WFT 078 - Wildland Basic Fire Academy

Prerequisite:FTEC 044
Advisory:WFT 101 or WFT 102 or WFT 103 or WFT 104 or WFT 105

This course is designed for students who want to gain basic certification as a wildland firefighter via the acquisition of certificates through the National Wildfire Coordinating Group (NWCG), California State Fire Marshal, and American Heart Association (AHA). This course provides training in hand crew formation, fireline construction, and the use of wildland fire equipment. Students are certified in Human Factors in the Wildland Fire Service (NWCG L-180), Firefighter Training (NWCG S-130), Firefighter Type 1 (NWCG S-131), Introduction to Wildfire Fire Behavior (NWCG S-190), AHA First Aid/CPR/AED Certification, and California Specialized Training Institute's (CSTI) Hazardous Materials First Responder Awareness (FRA) and Hazardous Materials First Responder Operations (FRO). Students learn about wildland fire crews (engine crews, hand crews, hotshot crews, helitak crews, and smokejumpers), wildland fire behavior, wildland firefighters' personal protective equipment, wildland firefighter safety, helicopter safety, dozer safety, wildland fire pumps, and wildland fire tools and firing devices. This course includes arduous physical conditioning, including hiking with up to 45 pounds of weight and other strenuous outdoor activities. The academy exceeds the United States Forest Service (USFS) minimum training requirements for an entry-level wildland firefighter for certification purposes.