Fireline Safety Refresher Training

The crew has completed their first 40 hours out of 80 of Fireline Safety Refresher training. This portion of their training is all classroom. The design of this program is to get the firefighters back into thinking about the basics of wildland firefighting and safety. This refresher included; Basic wildland fire behavior, Extreme Wildland Fire Behavior, Fire Weather, Human Factors and how it relates to Decision Making on the fireline, Fatality Fire case study (Lesson's Learned) "Cave Creek Fire", Firefighter Wellness, SOP's/SOG's, Fire Entrapment Avoidance (Little Venus Fire Entrapment-Lesson's Learned),Basic Firing/Burnout Operations, Driver Safety, Hazard/Snag Tree Safety, Chainsaw and Tool use and maintenence, Communications and flying fixed and rotor wing.





Crew learning how the pack gear and equipment for flying fixed wing. Often time's Hotshots will be ordered up for immediate need in other states. A Forest Service contracted commercial plane will fly the crew(s) to that fire.









Classroom training and Exercises.

During breaks, the crew would participate in grueling "Push-Up" drills

Chainsaw maintenance training .
(Courtesy of Sthil Chainsaws).










Tool maintenance training.

Wilderness Ranger Dave Volgarino, speaks to the crew on Firefighter Wellness.
Dave is a retired Captain of the Laguna Hotshots from the '90's.

The next phase (40 hrs.) of training will be in the field. The crew will spike out (camp) on the forest and will cut line on a fuel break. Several driils and scenario's will be given to the crew. On their 4th day, the crew will be up at 3 am to simulate a night cut on a fire. They will survive on MRE's (Meal, Ready to Eat) and water.