As an interagency fire training officer, I maintain training records for wildland firefighters and fire support personnel.
Good record-keeping and the ability to maintain an organized system is critical for tracking the specific needs of hundreds of responders. A friendly and helpful attitude is good, too, as we help find the right role for new people interested in starting fire or support work.
Most training and preparation for fire season happens in the spring in a short period of time. Firefighters must take training every year. I help find sessions for them, make sure it gets recorded, and that they’ve met the requirements to go to fires. It’s a lot of work all at one time.
We work in the Incident Qualifications and Certification System, IQCS. This web-based application is used to track responder training, experience, licenses, and qualifications. These qualifications are then printed on a Red Card showing what positions the responder is certified to work.
It takes more than firefighters to manage a fire. There are over 130 qualifications responders can gain to help in the wildland firefighting mission to keep firefighters fed, supplied, moving, and healthy. These support personnel are critical to getting the job done, and they have other day jobs as well.
I didn’t know much about wildland firefighting growing up. When I had a job as a timber marker, I was asked if I had an interest in fire. Since then, I’ve worked as a hotshot, dozer swamper, engine assistant, initial attack dispatcher, and regional coordinator. Being a training officer is my favorite role.
