THERE IS A PROGRAM SPECIFIC TO THOSE COMING FROM OUT OF STATE
THERE IS A SPECIFIC PROGRAM IN PLACE FOR THOSE WHO DON’T LIVE IN OREGON BUT WANT TO HELP WITH WILDFIRES.
THE MAJORITY OF THE REQUIRED TRAINING TO BECOME A WILDLAND FIREFIGHTER IS COMPLETED ON A COMPUTER OR MOBILE DEVICE. ONCE THAT’S COMPLETE THE NEXT STEP IS ATTENDING A FIELD TRAINING WEEKEND IN EUGENE, OR. ONCE YOUR ONLINE COURSES ARE COMPLETED YOU WILL NEED TO ATTEND AN IN-PERSON TRAINING TO FINALIZE YOUR CERTIFICATION AS A WILDLAND FIREFIGHTER.
THREE TRAVEL OPTIONS FOR TRAINING
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EARLY TRAINING
COME TO A TRAINING IN THE SPRING. IF YOU PLAN ON WORKING IN THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST YOU WOULD HEAD BACK HOME TILL THE FIRE SEASON STARTS. TYPICALLY THE FIRE COMPANY YOU WORK FOR WILL GIVE YOU UPDATES ABOUT THE SEASON AND LET YOU KNOW WHEN ITS KICKING OFF AND WHEN TO HEAD BACK TO THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST FOR THE FIRE SEASON.
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START OF SEASON TRAINING
COME TO A TRAINING THAT’S SCHEDULED CLOSE TO THE PREDICTED START OF THE FIRE SEASON . THE SEASON TYPICALLY KICKS OFF LATE JULY EARLY AUGUST. IF YOU PLAN TO WORK FOR A COMPANY IN THE PNW YOU COULD STAY IN THE AREA TILL THE FIRST FIRE CALL. THIS WAY YOU CAN BE READY TO GO RIGHT AWAY WHEN THE CALLS COME IN.
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LEVEL FOUR TRAINING
COME TO A TRAINING DURING THE PREDICTED FIRE SEASON. ONCE CREWS ARE BEING SENT OUT AROUND THE COUNTRY. SIMILAR TO THE START OF SEASON TRAINING, BUT YOU DON’T TRAVEL TO OREGON UNTIL FIRE CALLS ARE COMING IN. FIGHT FIRE SHORTLY AFTER FINISHING YOUR TRAINING HERE IN THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST.
FAQs
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A: NO, WILDLAND FIREFIGHTERS COME FROM ALL AROUND THE COUNTRY TO FIGHT FIRES IN THE PNW. MOST STUDENTS WHO COMPLETE THEIR TRAINING ARE HIRED ON BY A LOCAL COMPANY AND SPEND THEIR SUMMER HELPING WITH THE WILDFIRES. AFTER THE SEASON IS OVER THESE FIREFIGHTERS RETURN TO THEIR HOME STATE.
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A: YOUR LODGING AND MEALS WILL BE PROVIDED DURING YOUR FIELD TRAINING.
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A: SIMILAR TO DISPATCHING WITH YOUR CREW, WHERE YOU’RE RESPONSIBLE FOR GETTING TO THE DISPATCH LOCATION, YOU’RE IN CHARGE OF GETTING YOURSELF TO THE TRAINING FACILITY FOR FIELD TRAINING.
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A: IF YOU DON’T LIVE IN OREGON, WE SUGGEST ATTENDING A FIELD TRAINING CLOSER TO THE START OF FIRE SEASON. WITH THE FIRE SEASON TYPICALLY PEAKING IN AUGUST, FIREFIGHTERS TYPICALLY WAIT UNTIL JULY TO COMPLETE THEIR FIELD TRAINING. THE IDEA IS YOU GO TO WORK SHORTLY AFTER FINISHING YOU’RE FIELD TRAINING, AND MINIMIZE DOWN TIME.
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A: MOST STUDENTS ARE IMMEDIATELY HIRED BY A LOCAL COMPANY AS AN ON-CALL HANDCREW MEMBER . DEPENDING ON THE TIME OF YEAR, IT’S POSSIBLE TO BE DISPATCHED TO A FIRE SHORTLY AFTER FINISHING THEIR TRAINING.