What is the Prescribed Fire Training Center?
The Prescribed Fire Training Center (PFTC) is a unique program blending maximum field prescribed burning experience with a flexible curriculum of classroom instruction on foundational topics for prescribed fire practitioners.
Mission Statement
To maintain a National Interagency Center for Excellence in Prescribed Fire, with emphasis on actual field experience, in order to increase skills and knowledge and to build confidence in the application of prescribed fire.
The PFTC is headquartered in Tallahassee, Florida. Training locations are dispersed throughout Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, Alabama, Louisiana, North Carolina, and South Carolina. The Center has a number of training opportunities: 20-day sessions aimed at the prescribed fire practitioner, the Agency Administrator Workshop focused on federal line officers that manage prescribed fire programs, and the Burn Boss Workshop Attendees concentrated on burn bosses and increasing pace and scale of restoration through prescribed fire use.
The Southeast is an ideal site for the PFTC due to the year round burning programs of several agencies, broad prescription windows, and the high level of interagency cooperation. During their 20 day tour, individuals should expect to participate in prescribed burns conducted for a variety of objectives. The wildland urban interface is a focus for PFTC, and most participants will have opportunities to conduct burns in interface situations. This variety of field experience with the different prescriptions, planning procedures, and techniques of the various agencies offers an accelerated learning opportunity for the participants.
How to Apply
Applications are through the Wildland Fire Learning Portal. Click on the Training Opportunities tab below and then choose the training you are interested in. obtaining additional information and completing an application. If you have an account, login and you will be directed to the “Enrollment Options” screen, click on “Enroll Me” and you will automatically be directed to the application. If you don’t have an account, follow the directions for creating one on the Learning Portal Site. Once you receive notification you have an account, come back to this announcement and following the directions
- January 10, 2021 to January 29, 2021
- February 14, 2021 to March 5, 2021
- March 14, 2021 to April 2, 2021
- April 11, 2021 to April 30, 2021
- June 6, 2021 to June 25, 2021
- October 29, 2020 to November 3, 2020
- February 4, 2021 to February 9, 2021
Partners
The staff at the National Interagency Prescribed Fire Training Center is made up of, and supported by the following interagency partners:
| PFTC Staff | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Title | Name | Agency | Work # | Cell # |
| Director | Robert Trincado | FWS | 850.523.8633 | 850.274.3109 |
| Admin. Specialist | Carolyn Detwiler | FS | 850.523.8634 | 850.320.1790 |
| Fire Training Specialist | Greg Seamon | Tall Timbers | 850.523.8631 | 850.556.8613 |
| Operations Specialist | Mark “Mav” Ploski | FS | 850.523.8637 | 850.879.0914 |
The following agencies make up the PFTC Interagency Partnership:
- The USDA Forest Service
- USDI Fish and Wildlife Service
- USDI Bureau of Land Management
- USDI National Park Service
- USDI Bureau of Indian Affairs
- Florida Forest Service
- Tall Timbers
- Department of Defense
The Prescribed Fire Training Center is sanctioned by the NWCG (National Wildfire Coordinating Group).
The National Interagency Prescribed Fire Training Center is wholly responsible for the content of this site.