2024 Summer Course Descriptions

FEMA All-Hazard Courses

FEMA All-Hazard Course
O-305: Type 3 All-Hazards Incident Management Team

As part of a technical assistance program to develop Incident Management Teams (IMT) across the country, the U.S. Fire Administration's National Fire Program Branch is coordinating the management of the All-Hazards Incident Management Team curriculum for State & specified Regional Incident Management Teams. The overall goal of USFA's IMT program is to develop state & regional IMTs to function under the National Incident Management System (NIMS) during a large &/or complex incident or a major event. This course is designed for those who are assigned to function in an All-Hazards IMT during a large/complex incident, typically extending into the second operational period. The AHIMT can either support an existing ICS structure or can assume command of an incident if requested to do so. The AHIMT can ease the transition to a Type 2 or Type 1 IMT for incidents of national significance.
Prerequisites: All responders who may serve in command or general staff positions must have the following: IS-100.B, IS-200.B, G/ICS300, G/ICS400, IS-700.A & IS-800.

Skills Specific Courses
CDOT: CDOT/ DFPC Wildfire Program

This course is for CDOT employees only!

PEW: PTRC/ EQTR Workshop

This workshop is a great opportunity for hands-on experience including e-Isuite for time and equipment recorders who have completed S-261. Example incident scenarios will be provided. Students are encouraged to bring laptop with e-Isuite.
Prerequisite: S-261.

MIT 101: Mitigation 101

This introductory course offers a foundational training experience tailored for professionals in the field of mitigation and wildfire management. This immersive one-day program aims to provide participants with a comprehensive understanding of concepts, resources, and terminology crucial to navigating the intricacies of community wildfire mitigation. This course is intended as a precursor to Community Wildfire Mitigation Best Practices (CWMBP) if students are interested in taking that course as well. Participants can expect to leave Mitigation 101 with a heightened Awareness of wildfire mitigation and awareness of: Community Wildfire Mitigation Terminology, Introduction to Fire Behavior and Response, Policies, Plans, and Funding, The Players and Programs, Taking Action in Communities and on Landscapes and Ongoing Learning Opportunities. Prerequisites: watch pre-work video

ROHVA: Recreational Off-Highway Vehicle Basic Driving Course

This one-day UTV course is designed to provide for driver development in the areas of skill development and risk management strategies. The course will give students a better understanding of pre-ride safety checks, basic off-highway driving skills, and safe driving practices. This is a one-day class that will include closed course driving exercises and trail experiences. Upon successful completion each student will receive a course completion card from the Recreational Off-highway Vehicle Association (ROHVA). Prerequisite: Must have a valid motor vehicle license. Complete the Recreational Off-Highway Vehicle E-Course at www.rohva.org

NWCG Courses
FI-210: Wildland Fire Origin and Cause Determination

This course is designed to prepare an individual for basic fire investigation responsibilities in the area of origin and cause determination. Students successfully completing this course will receive full credit for FI-210 as required by NWCG certification standards.
Prerequisites: Law Enforcement Officer or 1 year experience as a firefighter.

ICS-300: Intermediate ICS for Expanding Incidents

This course is designed to enable personnel to operate efficiently using ICS in supervisory roles on expanding or Type 3 incidents. Topics include: ICS fundamentals review, incident/event assessment & agency guidance in establishing incident objectives, Unified Command, incident resources management, planning process, demobilization & incident transfer of command or close out. Qualifies for CO Post Credit!
Prerequisites: ICS-200.

L-280: FOLLOWERSHIP TO LEADERSHIP

This training course is designed as a self-assessment opportunity for those stepping into a leadership role. One-day of classroom followed by a field day with students working through a series of problem-solving events in small teams. Topic areas include: Leadership values & principles; transition challenges for new leaders; situational leadership; team cohesion factors; & ethical decision-making.
Prerequisites: Experience on incident assignments in operations or support functions & L-180.

L-380: FIRELINE LEADERSHIP

This course also known as “At the Point of the Spear: Leading and preparing emergency response units “(DHS CA-002PREV) is a 36-hour program that focuses on helping response leaders build more cohesive, adaptive, and resilient teams. This program teaches principles for leading in high-risk and high-stress environments, building team cohesion, and resolving conflicts and problems within the team. Using a mix of theory, classroom exercises, and field exercises, this interactive program is designed to reinforce mission-driven operational culture at the team level and to provide a framework from which to launch future organizational development. More than 50 agencies and departments rely on this program for first-line leader development.
Prerequisites: Incident personnel with supervisory responsibilities; Human Factors in the Wildland Fire Service (L-180); completion of pre-course work. Sponsored by CO Division of Fire Prevention & Control.

CWMBP: Community Wildfire Mitigation Best Practices

2-day short course Community Wildfire Mitigation Best Practices (CW-MBP) is a national-level training from Coalitions & Collaboratives, Inc. (COCO) and the USDA Forest Service. It is designed for current or future mitigation specialists, wildfire program leads, and others working with residents and their communities to reduce wildfire risk. CW-MBP training concentrates on science, methods, and tools to help you engage communities and residents while also helping you to eliminate ineffective practices.
Participants should come with a basic understanding of wildfires, how structures ignite, and vegetation management practices. The course assumes you know how to mitigate but are seeking ways to engage your community. In this workshop, you will work through some of the greatest challenges facing our wildland-urban interface communities with a focus on how to increase engagement with residents and partners.
The course will help you break down ineffective practices to make space for the more effective ones with a focus on on-the-ground mitigation activities. The 2-day short course covers all the same topics as our full course however some topics are covered at a higher level. If you are interested in getting the Incident Qualification and Certification System (IQCS) N9073 Training Certificate, you must complete pre-work, attend and actively participate in both days of training, and complete a Mitigation Action Plan (MAP) within two weeks of course completion.

- Step one register through the CWFIMA site. Step two - your registration for this class is not complete until you receive additional instructions from a COCO representative and fill out the additional paperwork to confirm acceptance into the course.

S-130/190: Firefighter Training & Intro to Wildland Fire Behavior

This introductory course is designed to train entry-level firefighters referred to as a Firefighter Type 2 (FFT2). You will be introduced to & gain knowledge of the basic incident management organization, firefighting techniques, suppression equipment, safety, strategy/tactics along with fire behavior. Field exercises will be performed for valuable hands-on training. Includes L-180.
Prerequisites: None.

S-130/190: Blended Review & Field Day Basic Firefighting

This two-day class assists those students taking the online S-130/190 course with the necessary classroom review & field work to successfully complete the class for NWCG certification.
Prerequisites: successful completion of online S-130/190 and L-180 modules (approx. 24 hours online) prior to attending 2-day class.

S-131: Firefighter Type 1

This course is designed to the meet the needs of an advanced Firefighter Type 1 (FFT1). The course is interactive & contains several tactical decision games designed to facilitate learning the objectives & class discussion. Topics include: Fireline reference materials, communications & tactical decision making.
Prerequisites: Qualified as FFT2.

S-200: Initial Attack Incident Commander

Initial Attack Incident Commander The intent of this course is to provide students with the tools & techniques to make the transition from Single Resource Boss to Incident Commander.
Prerequisites: Qualified as any Single Resource Boss (SRB).

S-211: Portable Pumps and Water Use

This course is designed to provide knowledge and skills to design, setup, operate, troubleshoot, and shut down portable water delivery systems. The focus is on portable pumps – it does not address water delivery for engines. Topics covered include: portable water delivery systems; equipment; roles and responsibilities; and system design and hydraulics. There is also a field exercise where students will apply what they learned in the classroom.

S-212: Wildland Fire Chainsaws

This class is designed to train students in the proper use of chain saws and techniques necessary to prepare them for their functional role as a chain saw operator on an incident. Class A and B certification is available with this 5-day class & field (based on evaluation).
Prerequisites: Qualified as FFT2 and current certification in Basic First Aid & CPR.

S-215: Fire Operations in the Wildland/Urban Interface

Instructional units include firefighter safety in the interface, managing human factors in the interface, pre-incident planning, size-up & initial strategy, structure triage, structure protection overview, tactics in the interface, tactical operations & resource use in the interface, action assessment, plan update, & after-action review.
Prerequisites: FFT1 qualified.

S-219: Firing Operations

This course was developed using a blended approach to learning. Students are required to complete the online training portion of the course prior to taking the ILT. The course introduces the roles and responsibilities of a Firing Boss, Single Resource (FIRB), and outlines duties of other personnel who may engage firing operations. The course discusses and illustrates common firing devices and techniques.
Prerequisites: a minimum of FFT2 qualified and RT-130. **Students seeking (FIRB) certification must successfully complete, ICS-200, S-230, S-290 and RT-130.

S-230: Crew Boss

This is a classroom course designed to produce student proficiency in the performance of duties associated with the single resource boss position from initial dispatch through demobilization to the home unit. Topics include operational leadership, preparation & mobilization, assignment preparation, risk management, entrapment avoidance, safety & tactics, offline duties, demobilization, & post incident responsibilities.
Prerequisites: S-290 & FFT1 qualified.

S-231: Engine Boss

This is a skill course designed to produce student proficiency in the performance of the duties associated with engine boss, single resource (ENGB). Topics include engine & crew capabilities & limitations, information sources, fire size-up considerations, tactics, & wildland/urban interface.
Prerequisites: S-230 & FFT1 qualified.

S-236: Heavy Equipment Boss

This is a skill course is designed to meet the training needs of a Heavy Equipment Boss on an incident as outlined the PMS 310-1 and the Position Task Book developed for the position. Primary considerations are tactical use and safety precautions required to establish and maintain an effective dozer operation. A field exercise is required as part of the course.
Prerequisites: includes completion of pre-course work (2 hours) and qualified as firefighter type 1 (FFT1).

S-260: Interagency Incident Business Management

Discusses business management principles associated with incidents. This course includes employee responsibilities & conduct; recruitment personnel time recording; pay & commissary; correct reporting procedures for injuries; procurement & equipment time recording; property documentation; cooperative agreements with other agencies; claims/accident investigations.
Prerequisites: none.

S-270: Basic Air Operations

This course offers information on the uses of aircraft in fire suppression and provides instruction on how to conduct oneself in and around aircraft. It will familiarize the trainee with tactical and logistical uses of aircraft in fire suppression, as well as describe the specifications for helicopter landing areas.
Prerequisites: None.

S-271: Helicopter Crewmember

This is a combined classroom/field course designed to provide student proficiency in all areas of the tactical and logistical use of helicopters to achieve efficiency and standardization. Topics include aviation safety, aircraft capabilities and limitations, aviation life support equipment, aviation mishap reporting, pre-flight checklist and briefing/debriefing, aviation transportation of hazardous materials, crash survival, helicopter operations, helicopter field exercise. Refer to the Interagency Aviation Training (IAT) Guide for IAT A-course equivalencies: https://www.iat.gov/.

S-290:  Intermediate Wildland Fire Behavior

This fire behavior course provides students with the knowledge of wildland fuels & fire behavior to make safe & effective fire management decisions on prescribed & wildland fires. **You will be required to complete multiple hours of prework on the WFLP prior to your arrival. You MUST complete it before you arrive in class or you will not be eligible to take the final exam necessary to receive a certification. Please be sure that you have a valid email address to ensure you get all the communications necessary for this course.
Prerequisites: S-130/190, must complete the WFLP prework after your acceptance in the class

S-330: Task Force/Strike Team Leader

This course meets the training requirements for the positions of Task Force & Strike Team Leader. The course is designed to be interactive with several scenarios & exercises specific to wildland fire suppression.
Prerequisites: Qualified as any Single Resource Boss; completion of pre-course work.