Georgia Basic Wildland Firefighter Training - Distance Learning

Certification for Wildland Firefighter Training is issued by the Georgia Forestry Commission (GFC), the "Authority Having Jurisdiction" for wildland fire certification in the state of Georgia, in the form of a training completion certificate and National Wildfire Coordinating Group (NWCG) Incident Qualification Card (Red card).

Trainees completing all aspects of this course can also apply to challenge the written National Professional Qualifications (NPQ) exam administered by Georgia Firefighter Standards and Training Council (GFSTC) upon presentation of training certificate issued by GFC.

Who Training is For

1. Fire Department personnel - Must be a Georgia Certified Firefighter, or for the volunteer firefighter a minimum of Basic Firefighter Module One with live fire.

2. State Agency personnel affiliated with an NWCG member agency such as the GFC, or Federal wildland fire agencies through direct membership or agreement.

3. Cooperator personnel affiliated with Georgia Forestry Commission under their employer's cooperative wildfire agreement.

Field Exercise

REGISTRATION

Upon registration for this course, send an E-mail from the department chief or training officer listing the persons approved for registration to:

All registrations must use only the E-mail address of the department chief - training officer - or trainee supervisor in the case of non-fire department cooperators. The E-mail listing trainees must be sent by the respective chief or training officer. This person is responsible for trainees being ready for the field day and for timely cancellations.

Once registered a "no-show" on the Field Exercise Days may result in a $100 assessment against the employer for each non-reporting student.

The above assessment will only be waived if notification to the Course Coordinator is received 48 hours prior to the scheduled field exercise. It is the responsibility of the supervisor who signed the registration form to ensure this notification is timely.

1. Trainees must register for a GFC-sponsored Field Exercise before course enrollment (either online or via CD-ROM).
2. Trainees must bring their completed final exam certificates for S-190, S-130, and I-100 when reporting to the Field Exercise check-in.
3. All registered trainees will be notified of the location and reporting time of the Field Exercise by the Administrator prior to the scheduled date.
4. Contact the Course Coordinator for the selected date if you have additional questions.
5. Cost of Field Exercise:
   • For qualifying Departments with a population less than 10,000 there is no cost to participate in VFA/GBWF field exercises.
   • For Departments with a population greater than 10,000 a registration fee of $30.00 per student is required to participate in a VFA/GBWF field exercises.
   • If a Department or Agency wants to schedule a "Closed-Course Field Exercise" they can coordinate training by contacting the GFC Chief Ranger serving their county. A registration fee of $30.00 per student will be charged for a minimum of 20 students and a maximum of 30.
6. Trainees will not be able to participate in a field exercise without the REQUIRED Wildland Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and Protective Footwear.

There are seven (7) basic items which every wildland firefighter trainee must possess when reporting to a hosted field exercise day.

1. NFPA 1977 SPEC. Hardhat (not Fireman's Helmet)
2. NFPA 1977 SPEC. Goggles/Eye Protection
3. NFPA 1977 SPEC. Fire Shirt
4. NFPA 1977 SPEC. Leather Fire Gloves
5. NFPA 1977 SPEC. Fire Shelter
6. NFPA 1977 SPEC. Fire Pants or NFPA 1977 SPEC. Yellow "Overpant" or Jean or "BDU" Style (big enough to be used as an "overpant").
7. Fireline Boots - must meet at least all of the following requirements:
   1. Eight inch minimum boot height
   2. All leather uppers (No synthetic collars or panels)
   3. Lace up (no zippers)
   4. Defined heel
   5. Oil resistant soles
   6. Rating of Good or Better on sole heat resistance
   7. Non-slip sole - NO steel toe

Any other items such as gear packs, radio packs, etc. are entirely optional and not required.

CD-ROM Courses - mailed by GFC to the trainee upon registering for the Field Exercise.

E-Courses - National Fire Academy

Course Descriptions

S-190 Introduction to Wildland Fire Behavior

This course, developed by the National Wildfire Coordinating Group (NWCG), provides instruction in the primary factors affecting the start and spread of wildfire and recognition of potentially hazardous situations. S-190 is typically taught in conjunction with or prior to Firefighter Training, S-130. The material is broken into three online modules (1 to 3 hours each).

S-130 Firefighter Training

This course, developed by the National Wildfire Coordinating Group (NWCG), addresses the foundational skills universal to all wildland firefighters. The material is broken into twelve on-line modules (1 to 3 hours each) and a mandatory, instructor led field day exercise. Each online module explains the concepts and skills that will be performed and evaluated on the field day exercise. Module twelve contains optional knowledge areas (pump operations, map and compass, fire investigation and cultural resources) that are very useful concepts but not required due to time constraints.