FSH 5109.18 - WILDLAND FIRE PREVENTION HANDBOOK WO AMENDMENT 5109.18-99-1 EFFECTIVE 06/10/1999 CHAPTER 80 - WILDLAND FIRE PREVENTION AND COMMUNICATIONS TRAINING 80.2 - Objective. To maintain a cadre of trained employees in wildland fire prevention and fire communications. 80.4 - Responsibility. 1. Line officers are responsible for assessing wildland fire prevention training needs and providing training opportunities. 2. Regional Foresters and the Area Director are responsible for maintaining a cadre of trained employees available for assignment in wildland fire prevention and fire communications. 3. All Forest Service employees, as appropriate for their positions and degree of involvement with fire prevention and communications, are responsible for preventing wildland fires and for helping the public prevent wildland fires. 81 - TRAINING STANDARDS. Further direction and information on wildland fire training courses and standards can be found in FSH 5109.17, Wildland Fire Qualifications Handbook. 81.1 - All Employees. All Forest Service employees are encouraged to complete an introductory fire prevention course, such as P-101, Introduction to Wildfire Prevention, or a local equivalent. Introductory courses provide fundamental insight into wildland (and wildland/urban) fire problems and the responsibility that each employee, regardless of functional area, has in preventing, and helping the public to prevent wildland fires. Such introductory fire prevention courses cover the three "E's" of fire prevention (education, engineering, and enforcement); promote an understanding of fire risk, hazard, and value; and provide training in specific prevention activities. 81.2 - Employees with Fire Prevention and Communications Responsibility. 1. Wildland Fire Prevention, Education and Communication Specialists and other employees with fire prevention responsibilities are encouraged to acquire knowledge and skill in the following courses at the specified levels. Further direction and information on internal training is found in FSH 5109.17, Wildland Fire Qualifications Handbook: a. Fire Prevention, Education and Communication Specialists (entry level): I-200, "Basic Incident Command System"; RX-340, "Introduction to Fire Effects"; P-101, "Introduction to Wildfire Prevention, and P-110, "Inspecting Fire Prone Property." b. Fire Prevention, Education and Communication Specialists (working level): P-301, "Wildland Fire Prevention Planning"; P-151, "Wildfire Origin and Cause Determination"; "Fire in Ecosystem Management"; "Managing Fire Prevention Programs National Workshop." c. Fire Prevention and Education Specialist (expert level): P-301, "Wildland Fire Prevention Planning"; P-151 "Wildfire Origin and Cause Determination"; "Fire in Ecosystem Management"; "Managing Fire Prevention Programs National Workshop"; and I-403, "Information Officer." 2. The following are additional knowledge areas and/or skills that may be beneficial for employees with fire prevention, education, and communication duties: a. Computers - Geographic Information Systems (GIS) applications and use of the Internet. b. Planning - fire assessment processes, workload analyses, the National Fire Management Analyses System, and budget process. c. Smokey Bear - history, role, proper use. d. Fire and ecosystem management. e. Fire Protection - property owner preparedness measures, landscaping, construction, insurance issues, and urban planning processes. f. Communications and marketing techniques. g. Engineering - inspection procedures, protocol and enforcement techniques, prevention technology, fuel manipulation techniques. h. Enforcement - Safety, authority, Federal and State laws and regulations, cause and origin determination and report preparation, restriction, closure implementation, tort claims, and criminal and civil remedies related to fire. i. Cooperators - their mission, interactions, agreements, fire laws and policies, and enforcement authorities and jurisdiction j. Knowledge of local publics, audiences, and stakeholders - affiliations, awareness, values, natural resource interests, and attitudes. k. Second language. 81.3 - Fire Duty Employees. 1. Employees with wildland fire prevention duties shall have a thorough understanding of presuppression, suppression, and prescribed fire activities. Wildland fire prevention courses and knowledge of the National Fire Management Analysis System are prerequisites for wildland fire prevention personnel. 2. Employees involved in inspections and/or law enforcement duties shall have a thorough understanding of enforcement authorities and procedures. Training in employee safety training and Job Hazard Analyses should address all prevention functions. Further direction and information on internal training is found in FSH 5109.17, Fire Training Qualifications Handbook. 82 - WILDLAND FIRE PREVENTION TRAINING COURSES. Regions and local units may develop training courses to increase the skill level of personnel who perform fire prevention or fire communications duties, or these employees may take advantage of courses, seminars, workshops, and conferences offered through colleges, universities, and other agencies and organizations. 82.1 - National Wildfire Coordinating Group (NWCG). The following national training courses offered by the National Wildfire Coordinating Group (NWCG) are available to employees of all agencies at the National Interagency Fire Center: 1. P-101 - Introduction to Wildfire Prevention. 2. P-110 - Inspecting Fire Prone Property. 3. P-151 - Wildfire Origin and Cause Determination. 4. P-301 - Wildland Fire Prevention Planning. 82.2 - Fire Investigation Training. The National Wildfire Investigation Training Program is offered through the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center (FLETC).