Wildland Fire Suppression Certificate

The Wildland Fire Suppression certificate will provide students with a solid foundation in wildland fire suppression. This certificate will provide the training wildland fire fighters need for the Federal Interagency "Red card" and will meet and exceed the minimum requirements for State and Federal Agencies that hire wildland fire fighters.

This certificate is designed for people who would like to pursue employment with the NYS DEC and federal agencies such as the U.S. Forest Service, the Bureau of Land Management, the National Park Service, and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services.  Additionally, this certificate is designed for individuals with a general interest in wildland fire suppression; volunteer firefighters who would like to expand their knowledge and career opportunities; and currently enrolled students with an interest in supplementing their conservation degrees.

Courses are being offered in the evening and on weekends in order to accommodate the schedules of busy adult students and employed students.

Students will also receive federally-recognized certification through the completion of Wildland Fire Suppression (S130/S190); Portable Pumps and Water Use (S211); Fire Fighter Type I (S131/S134); Wildland Fire Chain Saws (S212); Basic Incident Command System (I100/I200); and Fire Operations in the Wildland/Urban Interface (S215).

Prospective firefighters must first complete the Wildland Fire Suppression course offered as part of this certificate program.  This course provides the required training to obtain the S130 and S190 state and federally-recognized certification.  Additionally, students must also pass an employer's physical fitness test consisting of a timed run or "pack" test.  FLCC was the first College in New York state to offer this course to the public.

Recommended Sequence/Requirements

First Semester  (15 Credit Hours)

  • COM 110 Public Speaking OR COM 115 Interpersonal Communication (3)
  • WFS 100 Orienteering (1)
  • WFS 101 Fire Science Agencies and Careers(1)
  • WFS 130/CON 255 Wildland Fire Suppression (2)
  • WFS 211 Portable Pump and Water Use (2)
  • 3 credits Conservation elective (3)
  • PE 214 Responding to Emergencies (3)

Second Semester (13 Credit Hours)

  • WFS 131 Fire Fighter Type I (1)
  • WFS 200 Basic Incident Command System (1)
  • WFS 212 Wildland Fire Chain Saw (2)
  • WFS/CON 256 Fire Ecology (3)
  • Wildland Fire Suppression elective (2)
  • Conservation elective (3)
  • General elective (1)

Curriculum Requirements

Humanities

  • COM 110 Public Speaking OR COM 115 Interpersonal Communication

Wildland Fire Suppression

  • WFS 100 Orienteering
  • WFS 101 Fire Science Agencies and Careers
  • WFS 130/CON255 Wildland Fire Suppression
  • WFS 131 Firefighter Type I
  • WFS 200 Basic Incident Command System
  • WFS 211 Portable Pumps and Water Use
  • WFS 212 Wildland Fire Chain Saws
  • WFS/CON 256 Fire Ecology
  • 2 credit hours of Wildland Fire Suppression electives

Conservation

  • 6 Credit hours of conservation electives

Physical Education

  • PE 214 Responding to Emergencies

General Elective

  • 1 Credit hour general elective