Overview
Field Coordinators or Assistant Field Coordinators for the National Interagency Prescribed Fire Training Center (NIPFTC) act as the leads and mentors for the Rx Fire Leadership Modules to ensure accountability, cohesion, and safety. They facilitate high quality experiential learning opportunities to develop the next generation of prescribed fire practitioners. NIPFTC also relies on the Field Coordinators to maintain and enhance the positive relationships with our interagency cooperators that host us.
Past Field Coordinators with NIPFTC have found the experience challenging and rewarding, resulting in many that return year after year.
Upcoming Dates and Schedule
Session 1: 01/05/2025 through 01/24/2025
Session 2: 02/09/2025 through 02/28/2025
Session 3: 03/09/2025 through 03/28/2025
Session 4: 04/06/2025 through 04/25/2025
Session 5: 04/27/2025 through 05/16/2025
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Potential locations for these sessions will be Tallahassee, FL., Tulsa, OK, Rapid City, SD. and Boise, ID. The session start/end point will be communicated after selection.
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The schedule consists of a Field Coordinator orientation that goes over expectations and duties, followed by a session orientation with presentations covering safety, ignition techniques, fire research, and lessons learned. The session orientation also includes field trips covering fire planning and implementation, fuels, research and ecology, and wildlife and fire. Burning will occur at various federal, state, and private cooperator sites. On the last day, Field Coordinators and students will closeout with NIPFTC Staff.
- The session includes interaction with active federal and state prescribed fire programs. The selected session start/end point will be communicated after selection. During the session, Field Coordinators and students will move within the geographic region to take advantage of burning windows and programs. This will necessitate changing lodging multiple times during the session.
How to Apply
The application deadline for the 2025 sessions is October 17, 2024. Applications will not be accepted after close.
- Applications are completed on the Wildland Fire Learning Portal. Click on the following: NIPFTC Prescribed Fire Leadership Field Modules - 2025 and you will be redirected to the login page. Login with your Wildland Fire Learning Portal credentials and click on "Enroll Me." From there your should be able to complete the application.
- If you don't have a Wildland Fire Learning Portal account, follow the directions for creating one on the login page. Once you receive notification that you have an account, come back to this announcement and follow the above directions.
Cost and Requirements
- There is no tuition. All costs for travel, per diem, salary, and overtime will be the responsibility of the sending unit. NIPFTC will provide transportation during the session.
- All Field Coordinators must have watched the video "The New Generation Fire Shelter" (NFES-2712). Field Coordinators must also arrive with appropriate PPE.
- Field Coordinators must be RXB2 qualified and have the ability to validate RXB2 experience acquired outside of NIPFTC. Assistant Field Coordinators must be FIRB qualified, at minimum, as well as pursuing RXB2.
- The Field Coordinator works closely with the students to ensure teachable moments that occur before, during, and after prescribed fire implementation are identified and discussed. This requires the Field Coordinators to have a breadth of experience and qualifications. On non-burn days, the Field Coordinator should be prepared to lead discussions and instruct on relevant, related, and meaningful topics with the module. Field Coordinators must have strong leadership skills, enthusiasm for teaching, and be able to answer questions on technical aspects of prescribed burning.
- Field Coordinators will be required to complete both fieldwork and administrative duties including submitting daily data entries and ensuring vehicle and equipment accountability and maintenance.
- Field Coordinators will be with a group of six to seven individuals, day and night, during their detail. Experience leading a module or crew is beneficial.
- Applications from disciplines other than fire management are encouraged to apply.