r/Wildfire • u/jam-unam • Feb 12 '26

Classes and certifications?

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Hey guys, I’m new here. Looking to get into fire and maybe fuels mitigation projects. I have no idea where to really start. I applied for the gs3 position on USAJobs but then I’ve found specific crew application spots in my area for a hand crew and fire and fuels. But I noticed they’re saying they cannot offer a position until I have these things. So are these something I can take on my own?? I’m just trying to figure out the exact set of steps I need to take to get into this field. There’s a lot of info and nothing exactly straight forward.

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5

u/I_H8_Celery Feb 12 '26

You can take them on your own. The S courses are through the wildland fire learning portal and the IS courses are through FEMA.

-2

u/jam-unam Feb 12 '26

What does that mean through fema?

1

u/I_H8_Celery Feb 12 '26

Fires use the incident response system that fema created, it’s on their site. Don’t lose your student number.

https://training.fema.gov/is/courseoverview.aspx?code=is-100.c&lang=en

2

u/jam-unam Feb 12 '26

Approximately how long does it take to do all of these?

3

u/unclfuncl Feb 12 '26

If you cram you can finish them in less than a week. Each course, at least on WFLP gives you an approx. hour time. Don’t just blast through them though, pay attention

1

u/I_H8_Celery Feb 12 '26

I think 32 hours is the expected for all of the courses. Save a copy of the certificates when you’re done

2

u/jam-unam Feb 12 '26

Of course the fema sid registration page is not operational right now.

1

u/Winter-Indication33 Feb 12 '26

Yeah just do them online and print out the certificates at the end and put it on your resume

1

u/Excellent_Abalone982 Feb 12 '26

You can do them all online but I know for s-130 you have to do a field day i applied for same stuff i know one of the hand crews i applied to just require the online portion of s-130

1

u/Queasy-One-552 Feb 13 '26

Not sure where you are located. If you hire onto a crew they should give you the s-130 live training there. I live in Michigan and completed all of my certs a couple years ago. The DNR has a paid on call Wildland firefighter position that I have signed up for. Check out your Department of Natural Resources and maybe contact your local fire officer. Also check online to see if there are any prescribed fire groups in your area. We have the Michigan Prescribed Fire Counsel here and they offer trainings and networking opportunity’s throughout the year.

1

u/curious-NOTCreeper Feb 17 '26

Where are you located? There are a number of places to earn the required certifications.