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Certificate of Achievement
Wildland Fire Technology

The Certificate of Achievement in Wildland Fire Technology offers the required courses and learning domains for students to apply for employment with wildland firefighting agencies such as the United States Forest Service; California Department of Forestry; United States Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management; National Park Service, as well as municipal fire departments.

Please contact the Student Success Team for this program if you have any questions.

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Sample Education Plan

This sample education plan for the 2023-2024 catalog year represents one possible pathway through the program. Each university (UC, CSU, private, and others) has their own transfer requirements; please see a counselor to create an education plan that is customized to meet your needs. Additional course descriptions may be found in the College Catalog.
CourseUnitsTypically Offered
1st Semester
WFT 101 - Wildland Fire BehaviorM3.0
WFT 101 - Wildland Fire Behavior (3.0 units)

Advisory:It is advised that students be able to engage in written composition at a college level, perform mathematical operations with whole numbers, fractions, decimals, and percentages, and read college level texts.
Transfers to: CSU

This course is part of a series of core courses required for the Wildland Fire Technology Certificate of Achievement and Associate of Science degree programs. This course provides students with information necessary to understand basic wildland fire behavior, wildland fire predictions, and wildland fire operation safety. Wildland fire environmental factors and the tools required to monitor weather and fire behavior are discussed as related to wildland fire predictions. This course meets or exceeds National Wildfire Coordinating Group (NWCG) requirements.

WFT 102 - Wildland Firefighter Safety and SurvivalM3.0
WFT 102 - Wildland Firefighter Safety and Survival (3.0 units)

Advisory:It is advised that students be able to engage in written composition at a college and read college-level texts.
Transfers to: CSU

This course is part of a series of core courses required by the Wildland Fire Technology Certificate of Achievement and Associate of Science degree programs. The course provides students with information necessary to understand occupational safety and hazards associated with wildland firefighting operations. Emphasis is placed on situational awareness, protective measures, accident avoidance procedures, and the risk management process. Students also review fire ground near misses, entrapments, and fatalities. This course meets or exceeds National Wildfire Coordinating Group (NWCG) requirements.

WFT 103 - Wildland Fire OperationsM3.0
WFT 103 - Wildland Fire Operations (3.0 units)

Advisory:It is advised that students be able to engage in written composition at a college and read college-level texts.
Transfers to:CSU

This course is one in a series of core courses required by the Wildland Fire Technology Certificate of Achievement and Associate of Science Degree programs. This course provides students with information necessary to understand ground and air operations associated with wildland firefighting operations. Emphasis is placed on incident command system use, strategy, tactics, hazards, resource typing, management, and safety procedures during wildland fire incidents. This course meets or exceeds National Wildfire Coordinating Group (NWCG) requirements.

WFT 104 - Wildland Fire Investigation, Prevention, and Public InformationM3.0
WFT 104 - Wildland Fire Investigation, Prevention, and Public Information (3.0 units)

Advisory:It is advised that students be able to engage in written composition at a college and read college-level texts.
Transfers to: CSU

This course is part of a series of core courses required by the Wildland Fire Technology Certificate of Achievement and Associate of Science degree programs. This course provides students with information and skills necessary to understand the roles and functions of a public information officer (PIO, S-203), fire prevention education team member (PETM, P-101), and the wildland fire investigator (INVF, FI-110). Various wildland fire-associated class projects engage students' public speaking, report writing, and presentation skills. This course meets or exceeds National Wildfire Coordinating Group (NWCG) requirements.

WFT 105 - Wildland Fire Logistics, Finance, and PlanningM3.0
WFT 105 - Wildland Fire Logistics, Finance, and Planning (3.0 units)

Advisory:It is advised that students be able to engage in written composition at a college and read college-level texts.
Transfers to: CSU

This course is part of a series of core courses required by the Wildland Fire Technology Certificate of Achievement and Associate of Science degree programs. The course provides students with information necessary to understand the responsibilities and functions of the logistics, finance, and planning sections. Emphasis is placed on how the different incident command system sections are organized and utilized during wildland fire incidents. This course meets or exceeds National Wildfire Coordinating Group (NWCG) requirements.

Total Semester Units:15.0 
2nd Semester
Major Elective M9.0
Notes:
Please select a minimum of 9 units selected from the following:
WFT 077 *Wildland Fire Academy (16 units)
EMT 093 *Emergency Medical Technician (8 units)
FTEC 044 *Physical Fitness and Ability for the Firefighter (3 units)
FTEC 107 Hazardous Materials I (3 units)
FTEC 108 *Hazardous Materials II (3 units)
FTEC 121 Emergency Response (3 units)

Total Semester Units:9.0 
Total Units for Wildland Fire Technology COA program 24.0 
Notes:
AP exams and courses taken outside of Rio Hondo College may fulfill general education and/or major requirements. Please check with a counselor.
Legend:
M Major course; course may also meet a general education requirement
Advising Sheet:
Click or tap here to open the program's advising sheet.

Program Learning Outcomes

1

Students will safely manipulate wildland fire tools, including shovel, Pulaski, and McLeod.


2

Students will recall the ten Standard Firefighting Orders.


3

Students will deploy a fire shelter.


4

Students will demonstrate proper use of the following tools and equipment: back pump, fuses, and backfire torch.


5

Students will function within an Incident Command System environment.


6

Students will assess impacts of fuel, weather, and topography on wildland fire behavior.


7

Assess impacts of fuel, weather, and topography on wildland fire behavior.


About RHC

Rio Hondo College, serving the communities of El Monte, Pico Rivera, Santa Fe Springs, South El Monte, and Whittier for over 50 years.

Contact

Rio Hondo College
3600 Workman Mill Road
Whittier, CA 90601

Phone: (562) 692-0921
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