Climate change during the 21st century is expected to result in more frequent forest fires in many boreal forests, with severe environmental and economic consequences. New research aims to refine these climate change estimates of fire activity and investigate adaptation strategies and options to deal with future fire occurrence. There is a growing consensus that as wildland fire activity increases, fire agency suppression efforts will be increasingly strained. ~ Natural Resources Canada
Wildfire Fighter Citation—Basic is a three-week training program that will prepare individuals for employment in the forestry industry, including tree planters, fire suppression workers, and wildfire interface workers (fuel management).
Participants will undergo a comprehensive training program that equips them with the necessary skills and knowledge to competently and safely function as entry-level workers in the forestry resource sector. This includes training in first aid, workplace safety, equipment safety and operation, safety standards, and industry-standard certification.
Prerequisites
In addition to meeting the general admission requirements to Selkirk College (see Policy 8611: Admissions), the applicant must meet the following Wildfire Fighter requirements by writing a Letter of Intent that includes a short paragraph outlining one's interest in the program and confirms that the student will have the following in please in time for the program start date:
- Be in good health and reasonably good physical condition (a self-assessment fitness checklist is available upon request)
- Valid Class 5 driver's licence
- Access to a vehicle to attend field trips
- Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), including:
- Safety boots with minimum 3" ankle protection
- Chaps meeting WorkSafeBC PPE 1 - 1997
- Hard hat with face shield
- Earmuffs
- Eye protection with side shields
- Cut-resistant gloves
- High visibility apparel
Program Format
Program Dates (TENTATIVE): October 7 - 25, 2024 (Monday - Friday)
Delivered five days a week over three weeks, participants will learn industry skills through a blend of classroom knowledge and hands-on applications in a group setting of like-minded peers interested in the forestry sector. Participants must complete all the courses in the program within three years.
Online registration is currently unavailable. If you are interested in learning more or joining our waitlist, please contact Shanon Moser at @email to receive updates on course details.
This course qualifies for the StrongerBC future skills grant. You could be eligible for up to $3,500 toward tuition. Find out more.
Workplace Hazardous Materials (WHMIS)
Tentative Date: Monday, October 7, 2024
Hazardous materials abound in many workplaces. Identify Hazardous products, read and make labels, and understand where to find treatment if you or someone else is exposed. Available online for your convenience.
Bear Aware & Wilderness Safety
Tentative Date: Tuesday, October 8, 2024
Participants will learn the foundation of working and staying safe in bear country. They will also develop a better understanding of bear behaviour, which can help them prevent encounters and reduce their risk of encountering a bear. Bear safety training is a WorkSafeBC requirement.
Basic First Aid: WorkSafeBC (Formerly OFA 1)
Tentative Date: Wednesday, October 9, 2024
Learn CPR/AED, how to deal with minor wounds, airway breathing, circulatory emergencies and more. Completion of records and reports is part of the course. Know what to do until the paramedics arrive. Does not include airway management and oxygen use.
Transportation Endorsement: WorkSafeBC
Tentative Date: Thursday, October 10, 2024
With your Transportation Endorsement, you will learn about packaging a conscious patient who requires spinal motion restrictions and who does not require spinal motion restrictions, packaging an unconscious patient and caring for a patient while in transport. This course does NOT cover airway management and oxygen use.
Combined S-100 Fire Suppression and S-185 Fire Entrapment Avoidance
Tentative Date: Tuesday, October 15, 2024
S-100: Participants will learn the fundamentals of firefighting, fire line safety, portable pumps and water delivery systems.
Tentative Date: Wednesday, October 16, 2024
S-185: Participants learn the fundamentals of firefighting, fire line safety, portable pumps and water delivery systems.
This course qualifies for the StrongerBC Future Skills grant. You could be eligible for up to $3,500 toward tuition. Find out more!
SAFE Chainsaw Operation & Maintenance
Tentative Date: Thursday, October 17 & Friday, October 18, 2024
This course provides participants with a basic level of understanding for safe chainsaw operation, making bucking cuts on level terrain, basic limbing techniques & introductory chainsaw maintenance.
S-212 Fireline Communications/Radio Operator Training
Tentative Date: Friday, October 11, 2024
Participants familiarize themselves with two-way radio equipment. learn correct radio procedures including caller and station ID, and the importance of etiquette.
Light Truck Driving
Tentative Date: Monday, October 21, 2024
Participants spend most of this course at a field site and behind the wheel. Training covers the safe operation of light trucks resource roads in British Columbia.
ATV
Tentative Date: Tuesday, October 22, 2024
This course intends to train ATV operators in operating ATV's under varied conditions encountered in silviculture operations, loading and unloading the ATV for transit, loading and securing loads on the ATV to balance weight, identifying key parts of an ATV, listing protective clothing and gear for operating an ATV, do pre-trip and post-trip inspections, towing a trailer, perform basic mechanical monitoring, determine and identify hazards en route, WorkSafeBC OH&S regulations pertaining to ATV operation, demonstrate safe operating skills.
GPS & Navigation
Tentative Date: Wednesday, October 23 & Thursday, October 24, 2024
This two-day Global Positioning Systems (GPS) and Google Earth course provides a solid foundation for students who desire to learn more about the basics of GPS operations and Google Earth integration with GPS.
Tree Identification
Tentative Date: Friday, October 25, 2024
Students will learn that there are over 100 different species of trees that successfully grow in our area and how to identify most of them. Each tree will be discussed with respect to form, texture, habit, foliage, flower and fruit characteristics, cultural requirements, and pest issues. Students will visit forest canopy sites with a diverse array of tree species.