Chabot College
Fall 2011
Course Outline for Fire Technology 91A
CAL FIRE WILDLAND FIREFIGHTER BASIC TRAINING
Catalog Description:
91A – CAL FIRE Wildland Firefighter Basic Training
(May be repeated once if Fire Technology 91A was taken before Fall 2009)
3 units
Provides a basic wildland firefighter course oriented toward entry-level employment opportunities within
agencies responsible for wildland fire mitigation and interface I-Zone protection, with emphasis on the
equipment utilized on California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE) engines. The
course is structured with a maximum emphasis on demonstration, student application and performance
examinations. Fundamentals of wildland fire control and techniques of controlling other emergency
incidents are covered with a strong safety perspective. A live fire exercise is provided for application of
fire control and suppression techniques. Provides S130 and S190 equivalency under National Wildfire
Coordinating Group (NWCG), IS-700.a under the Emergency Management Institute, and CAL FIRE
Wildland Firefighter Basic Training certification requirements. Course complies with the State Board of
Fire Services Wildland Fire Fighting requirements for Firefighter I Certification. Prerequisite: current
enrollment in, or successful completion of either Fire Technology 90C (completed with a grade of “C” or
higher) or a California Accredited Fire Fighter 1 Academy. 2.25 hours lecture, 1.75 hours laboratory.
[Typical contact hours: lecture 40, laboratory 32]
Prerequisite Skills:
Before entering the course, the student should be able to:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
identify the basic components of fire as chemical reaction, the major phases of fire, and the
main factors that influence fire spread and behavior;
don structure fire personal protective equipment (PPE), including self-contained breathing
apparatus (SCBA) and describe essential components and necessary maintenance;
identify and describe characteristics, care and maintenance of hose, couplings, and related tools
and appliances;
demonstrate methods for rolling, coupling/uncoupling, loading and deploying hose, with proper
application of related tools and appliances;
demonstrate basic operation and safety methods for portable fire extinguishers;
identify and describe fire service ground ladder terminology and safety practices;
identify and describe structure fire strategy and tactics, including application of accountability
principles according to the OSHA Two In-Two Out requirements;
describe the basic elements of firefighter safety and survival;
identify and describe indications of potential building collapse.
Expected Outcomes for Students:
Upon completion of the course, the student should be able to:
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3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
identify and describe the factors that influence wildland fire protection in California;
explain the mission, organization, and code of conduct requirements for wildland fire operations;
define basic Incident Command System (ICS) terminology, structure and facilities;
describe logistical support operations under the state mutual aid system for access to local state
and federal wildland fire resources;
describe the station operations and firefighter preparedness for response to an emergency call;
explain the physics and fire chemistry of wildland fire behavior;
identify and describe the extinguishing agents and application methods for various fire situations;
describe and demonstrate the proper methods for donning wildland personal protective equipment
(PPE), including self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA);
describe and demonstrate wildland firefighter safety principles;
Chabot College
Course Outline for Fire Technology 91A, page 2
Fall 2011
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
16.
17.
18.
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20.
identify and describe the characteristics and function of each type of wildland fire apparatus;
identify and describe fire operations and safety issues with firefighting aircraft and mobile ground
equipment;
describe and demonstrate proper utilization of wildland hand tools, power tools and equipment;
demonstrate deployment of 16-foot ground ladder;
demonstrate loading and deployment methods for wildland fire hose, appliances and tools;
identify and describe vegetation suppression strategies;
describe and demonstrate proper shelter deployment;
identify and describe structural suppression strategies;
identify and describe suppression strategies for vehicle fires and boiling liquid expanding vapor
explosions (BLEVE);
identify and describe fire suppression challenges involving the wildland / urban interface;
apply suppression techniques following all required safety practices under simulated and live fire
conditions.
Course Content (Lecture):
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Wildland fire protection organization in California
a.
Wildland values and functions
b.
Organization for wildland protection
c.
Fire terminology
d.
The fire problem in California

Recent incident studies
e.
Functions of the protection organization
1)
The fire prevention problem
2)
Fire prevention planning
3)
Presuppression planning
f.
Fire organization
1)
Planning
2)
Fire line
3)
Support
California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE)
a.
Mission and organization
b.
Code of Conduct
c.
Working with California inmate fire crews
Incident Command System (ICS)
a.
ICS terminology and structure
b.
Resource types by ICS classification
c.
ICS facilities
1)
Incident command post
2)
Staging areas
3)
Incident base
4)
Camps
5)
Helibases and helispots
Logistical support
a.
State and Federal agencies
b.
Local, state and federal mutual aid
Response preparedness
a.
Station operations
b.
Wildland firefighter preparedness
c.
Responding to an emergency call
Fire behavior
a.
Chemistry
b.
Fuel
Chabot College
Course Outline for Fire Technology 91A, page 3
Fall 2011
7.
8.
9.
10.
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c.
Weather
d.
Topography
Extinguishing agents and applications methods
a.
Water
b.
Foam
c.
Gels
d.
Chemicals
e.
Dirt
Personal protective equipment (PPE)
a.
Wildland fire PPE
b.
Structure fire PPE
c.
Self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA)
d.
Personal alert safety system (PASS)
Fireground safety
a.
Line organization
b.
Personal needs
c.
Medical concerns
d.
Hydration
e.
Snake bites and stings
f.
Burns
g.
Strains, Sprains
h.
Heat exhaustion, heat stroke
i.
Communication
j.
LACES
1)
Lookouts
2)
Awareness
3)
Communication(s)
4)
Escape route(s)
5)
Safety zone(s)
k.
Watchouts
l.
Standard Fire Orders
m.
Chainsaw safety
Apparatus types and capabilities
a.
Federal and California classifications
b.
Air operations, types of aircraft and facilities
1)
Fixed wing
2)
Rotary wing
c.
Mobile ground apparatus
1)
Structure engine
2)
Brush truck
3)
Mobile water shuttle
d.
Heavy equipment
1)
Dozers
2)
Tenders
Apparatus safety
a.
Safety considerations when working around dozers
b.
Safety considerations when working near aircraft
Wildland Equipment
a.
Hand and power tools
b.
Fire extinguishers
c.
Communication
d.
Traffic control devices and signals
e.
Records
Chabot College
Course Outline for Fire Technology 91A, page 4
Fall 2011
f.
13.
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16.
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Backfiring equipment
1)
Drip torch
2)
Back pumps
3)
Fusees
g.
Maps
1)
Map reading
2)
GPS
3)
Compass utilization
h.
Inspection and maintenance
i.
Characteristics and functions
Ground ladders
a.
Terminology
b.
Safety practices
Hose, appliances and tools
a.
Terminology
b.
Types of loads and lays
Vegetation fires
a.
Wildland firefighting terminology
b.
Parts of a wildland fire
c.
Wildland fire strategy
1)
Response
2)
Size-up
3)
Rescue
4)
Exposure
5)
Cutting line
d.
Attack methods
1)
Progressive hose lays
2)
Mobile attack operations
3)
Handline construction
e.
Mop-up and patrol
Structure fires
a.
Effects of structures endangered
b.
Strategies
c.
Tactics
d.
Two in – two out rule
e.
Confinement
f.
Extinguishment
g.
Firing operations
h.
Mop-up (overhaul)
i.
Salvage
j.
Patrol
k.
Building collapse indicators
Fire shelters
a.
Characteristics and functions
b.
Shelter deployment
Special fires
a.
Vehicle fires
b.
Boiling Liquid Expanding Vapor Explosion (BLEVE)
c.
Response strategies
Urban interface hazards
a.
Triage of structures
b.
Safety considerations
c.
Structure protection guidelines
Chabot College
Course Outline for Fire Technology 91A, page 5
Fall 2011
Course Content (Laboratory):
1.
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6.
7.
8.
Personal protective equipment
a.
Don wildland fire PPE
b.
Don SCBA
Firefighter safety
a.
Deploy a canister style fire blanket
b.
Demonstrate how to use a one-person side pull fire curtain
c.
Demonstrate how to use the one piece roll down fire curtain
d.
Demonstrate how to use the two piece fire curtain
e.
Deploy the new generation fire shelter – standing to sitting method
f.
Demonstrate how to assume the safety position for an air tanker drop
Hose
a.
Bed a triple fold hose load
b.
Deploy a triple fold hose load
c.
Advance a progressive hoselay
1)
Three person method
2)
One method (300 feet) method
d.
Carry hose from hose bed – one shoulder carry method
e.
Pick up and drain hose
1)
Accordion shoulder carry method – one person
2)
Butterfly method – one person
Tools and equipment
a.
Ignite and extinguish road flares and fusees
b.
Operate a back pump
c.
Operate a drip torch
Mobile equipment
a.
Apply chock blocks
b.
Connect and disconnect seat belts
c.
Demonstrate backing hand signals
Ground ladders
a.
Carry, raise, extend and place the 16-foot ladder to a structure
b.
Retract, lower and return the 16-foot ladder to the apparatus
Vegetation fires
a.
Perform a mobile fire attack
b.
Demonstrate mop-up and patrol
c.
Construct handline
Live fire exercise
a.
Perform attack methods
b.
Fire suppression techniques
c.
Demonstrate line and strip firing
Methods of Presentation:
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2.
3.
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10.
Lecture
Group discussion
Audiovisual aids
Simulated problem solving
Incident action planning
Reading assignments
Practical field applications
Manipulative drills
Controlled live fire exercises
Performance examinations
Chabot College
Course Outline for Fire Technology 91A, page 6
Fall 2011
Assignments and Methods of Evaluating Student Progress:
1.
Typical Assignments
a. Develop wildland interface scenario through oral evaluation during lab assignments and
describe the procedures towards conducting size up, containment, extinguishment and
overhaul.
b. Demonstrate in field exercises the proper use of tools and equipment.
c. Demonstrate proper use of Safety Equipment under various exercises, identifying escape
routes, safety zones and demonstrating proper shelter deployment techniques.
d. Demonstrate proper extinguishment methods using available means and equipment under
controlled live fire applications.
e. Read assignments of course text and review course handouts and classroom notes.
2.
Methods of Evaluating Student Progress:
a. Satisfactory completion of CAL FIRE WIldland Firefighter Basic Training Taskbook
b. Quizzes (written and oral)
c. Successful completion of all manipulative performance standards
d. Final state written examination
Textbook(s) (Typical):
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5.
Firefighter's Handbook on Wildland Firefighting: Strategy, Tactics & Safety, William C. Teie, Deer
Valley Press, 2005
Study Guide for the Firefighter's Handbook on Wildland Firefighting: Strategy, Tactics & Safety,
William C. Teie, Deer Valley Press, 2006
Essentials of Fire Fighting, 5th ed., IFSTA-Brady, Fire Protection Publications, 2008
CAL FIRE 4300 Manual, California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, 2010
Incident Response - Pocket Guide, National Wildfire Coordinating Group, 2002
Special Student Materials:
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4.
Wildland firefighting gloves, NFPA and ANSI Approved
WIldland firefighting boots, NFPA and ANSI approved
Long sleeve white cotton t-shirt and black cotton work pants
Wildland jacket, over-pants, helmet, shroud, and eye protection
(Note: The Fire Technology program furnishes the helmet, jacket, over-pants, shroud and eye
protection.)
WB: FT 91A course outline.doc
04/01/09, revised 10/21/10