Guys, I did a crazy thing. I passed firefighter training!
I know, right? WHAT?!
I mentioned that I started a new job back in September working as a Deputy Public Affairs Officer for USDA Forest Service — specifically the Coconino National Forest headquartered in Flagstaff. Because so much of my job involves working with wildfire communication, my boss sent me to firefighter training. Specifically, the Arizona Wildfire and Incident Management Academy.
Let me clarify before we get too carried away here: I WILL NOT BE OUT FIGHTING FIRE. Because my job as a public information officer is to translate firefighter lingo into information that can be consumed and understood by the general public, it was kind of necessary for me to go to wildfire academy just so I could learn the ins and outs of the industry, and so I could learn the necessary terminology.
So, firefighter training was a little different than what I expected. It was actually a lot of book work! Classes were a little weird this year due to COVID, so the first four days of our five-day course were conducted via Google Classrooms. We had class from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily, and had homework assignments.
The specific modules I took were S-130: Firefighter Training, S-190: Intro to Wildland Fire Behavior and L-180: Human Factors in the Wildland Fire Service. We call this the “S-130/190,” and it’s the first course that prospective firefighters need to take. The material is all from National Wildfire Coordinating Group, which is the organization that basically sets the industry standards across the country. Becoming a firefighter is a really interesting process. Each agency has its own hiring requirements, so depending on whether you want to work at the federal level (say, Forest Service), the state level (your state’s version of the Department of Natural Resources) or your local municipal fire department, hiring requirements will be different. The kind of firefighting job you want — turns out, there are a TON of types of firefighting job descriptions, guys — has different requirements. For example, AZ Wildfire Academy offers DOZENS of classes: Everything ranging from basic firefighter training (what I took) to classes in how to operate chainsaws. Yes, really! So if you want to work on a helitack (helicopter) crew, or a ground crew, or an engine crew, you’ll need different certificates to qualify for those jobs. Granted, Arizona focuses more heavily on wildfire suppression because, yunno, geographically, that’s a thing here.
Anyway, training! Like I said, the first four of our five days were all virtual. We went through dozens of modules, where we learned about everything from fuel sources (trees, shrubs, etc.) and types of heat (convention, convection and radiation) to how topography and weather affect the spread of wildfire. We learned about how a typical fire assignment works: how briefings are conducted, what Personal Protective Equipment you’ll need and how different types of fire engines function. We learned about fire suppression strategies and techniques, and the tools and equipment needed for fire suppression. Like, you think “bright red fire truck and hoses,” right? Oh there is SO much more to it than that! We learned about hand tools, like Pulaskis, McLeods and “combi” tools, and about different hose fittings and connections. We discussed how to start controlled burns using drip torches and fusees, and how to conduct a “mopup,” which is basically a combover to ensure that the fire is truly suppressed, and there are no warm areas that could reignite. We also learned about something called the “Wildland Urban Interface,” which is an entire module dedicated to deciding when, where and how to prep buildings for an incoming wildfire. Guys, I could go on. This paragraph barely covers what we learned during our four days of bookwork.
We also had to memorize the “10 and 18,” which is the 10 Standard Firefighting Orders and 18 Watch Out Situations.
If you’re interested in learning about some of this yourself, you can take a quick look at the Incident Pocket Response Guide, which is a handy-dandy cheat sheet (er, book) that gives a precursory glimpse at some of this information.
The class was actually kind of stressful, but I’ll admit that most of that stress was probably self-imposed. I always feel that part of being the only woman in a male-dominated space is having to know twice as much and work twice as hard. Ya know?
After our four days of Google Classrooms bookwork, we all masked up (and hard hatted up) for a field day held at Highlands Fire District Station 23, down in Kachina Village. Field day was basically a seven-hour day where we put all our theory into practice.
We started the day by constructing a fireline. I mentioned that we had learned about tools during the first four days of class, so our instructors handed us each a tool (I got a Pulaski, which I was later asked to trade for a shovel) and had us construct a fireline around an imaginary fire.
If you’re not familiar with firefighter terminology (I’d be surprised if you were, tbh), a fireline is a break in fuel (remember, fuel is grass/shrubbery, trees, etc.) made by digging down to dirt.
So… I spent about an hour swinging a Pulaski and/or shovel into the ground with about 20 men (again, yes, I was the ONLY woman in firefighter training, surprise) to construct this fireline.
Then afterward, we practiced gridding and pinwheeling —tactics used to make sure a fire is fully suppressed — before the explosives lesson. We all got to assemble and use a drip torch and examine the other various firing devices used to intentionally start controlled fires (yes, that’s a thing) before moving on to lunch. Luckily, I packed a lunch due to my dietary restrictions, because our instructors brought out boxes of MREs for everyone to eat.
After lunch, we toured the engines and then learned how to sharpen and file our tools. So… back to that Pulaski! I got to spend a goooooood 30 minutes sharpening it. We also took a “tour” of a firefighter pack to see what goes where in said pack. We also watched a demo of a Kestrel Weather Meter and a Belt Weather Kit —both of which are used to track fire progression and behavior.
Finally, we learned how to throw fire shelters. If you’re not familiar with fire shelters, definitely Google them. Basically, they’re little sleeping bag-like contraptions made of aluminum foil, silica and fiberglass that are used as a last resort when firefighters cannot make it back to their safety zones because a fire is progressing too quickly. When the fire shelters come out during an ACTUAL wildfire assignment, it’s a life-or-death situation and every second counts.
There’s a very specific way these shelters are packed, and a very specific way they need to be opened and deployed. They’re folded like accordions and are placed into a case. As soon as you open the case, you’re greeted with two handles CLEARLY labeled “left hand” and “right hand.” Again, it’s a life-or-death situation, so fire shelters are packed in a way that makes them as easy-access as possible.
Alright, so, ready for a laugh? We all had to pull packed practice shelters (made of tarp-y material) out of a giant Rubbermaid bin and then once our instructor gave us the “go,” we had to GO GO GO to deploy them. I was in the first group to go, of course.
So, I open my velcro case and notice that my shelter isn’t the same color as everyone else’s. Hm. Weird. Also… it’s missing handles? It took me FIVE TIMES LONGER than anyone else to deploy my shelter. I couldn’t get it out of the bag with my numb gloved hands. I couldn’t figure out how to unfold it because THE HANDLES WERE MISSING. Finally, after an EMBARRASSING amount of time, I manage to throw my shelter, find the handles, swing it over my back and lay down with it.
We all stand back up and… our instructor tells everyone that, somehow, all 5’5″ of me managed to accidentally get the ONLY size XL practice fire shelter that was packed into the Rubbermaid bin.
Literally every single person (me included) laughed. I mean, c’mon. Only me, right?
Also? It was folded incorrectly, so there was no way I would have been able to easily throw it since the handles were literally buried on the inside of the accordion folds and not accessible in any way, shape or form.
GO FIGURE.
I truly hope every single man enjoyed watching me, with my hardhat covering my braids and my work gloves covering my manicure, struggle to open a size XXXXXXL practice fire shelter that was folded incorrectly. GOOD THING THERE WASN’T A REAL FIRE, HUH GUYS, THAT’S RIGHT, KEEP LAUGHING.
Honestly, I wish there was video.
Anyway, after that, we had our evaluations, where we had to sit down with our instructors and go over the checklist to prove that we had absorbed some of the class material we’d learned throughout the week.
I wish I was able to take pictures, but I was a little too busy swinging and sharpening that damn Pulaski to take ’em.
Also, I didn’t want the men to judge me. That’s also a thing.
Oh, and for those of you curious as to what I wore? (Just because I know there are three of you, and maybe another woman at some point stumbles upon this blog post finds this useful?) Our training day was held in Flagstaff during January, so there was a low of 18 and a high of 40. I was totally comfortable in this all day. I got a little warm while building our line, but not enough to take my jacket off. I wasn’t terribly cold at any point, either, which was nice… even though my fingers and toes did go numb after standing around for a while.
I wore a pair of basic Timberland boots, wool socks, Lululemon leggings, Prana hiking pants, a Lululemon sports bra, a Lululemon tank top, a long-sleeved Lululemon running shirt, a Carhartt jacket (mine is the “Caldwell,” which I couldn’t find a link to, full disclaimer), Ridgecut leather work gloves, a Lululemon headband and, uh, my work-issued hard hat. Here are some affiliate links.
OK so anyway, that’s that! Firefighter training was actually a lot more fun than I thought it would be, even if I did end up embarrassingly sore the next day from swinging that Pulaski around for a while.
I’m actually considering taking the next steps in firefighter training — the Arduous Work Capacity Test — just because I can. I really don’t think I’ll ever be out in the field given that my main job will keep me busy enough during fire season, but it was definitely cool to go through training and really get an appreciation for what our wildland firefighters go through during a normal fire assignment. I sure as hell have a ton more respect for them after going through basic training, and my training in no way, shape or form even compares to a real assignment.
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