EMERGENCY OPERATIONS CENTRE (EOC)/FIRE BRANCH – 1 Day (Saturday) – FULL

Prerequisites:

• Annual Fireline Safety Refresher Training
• ICS 200
• ICS 300 is recommended
• Fire Officer 1 is recommended
• Engine Boss is recommended

Course Description:

The purpose of this course is to familiarize participants with the roles, responsibilities, and activities of the Operations Branch and/or Fire Branch in an Emergency Operations Centre (EOC). The course is also designed to train Fire Officers that are responsible for working with the EOC from the field on identifying community priorities or requests for resources. Information will be presented regarding the activities of the fire desk & field liaison positions, site interface, resource management, and status reporting.

Course Structure:

The EOC/Fire Branch course is a 1-day/7-hour course designed to meet the needs of Fire Officers (Chief Officers/Company Officers) working within the EOC and for those deployed in the field providing decision-makers with relevant situational awareness. In this role you will learn how to arrange and coordinate for urban and wildland fire suppression, as well as acquire mutual aid resources, as necessary. Topics will include organizational structure, lines of communication and reporting structure, the advance planning function and forms/documentation.

Course Learning Objectives:

• Complete EOC resource requests working with the Logistics Section, PREOC and PWCO/PWCC.
• Complete and maintain branch status reports for major incidents requiring or potentially requiring regional and provincial response support, and maintain status of unassigned fire resources in the area in conjunction with the Resource Unit.
• Implement the objectives of the EOC Action Plan assigned to the Fire Branch.
• Overall supervision of the Fire Branch.
• Development of a Wildfire Field Liaison.
• Integration into an advance planning team within the EOC.
• Form templates will be provided.

Task Force/Strike Team Leader (Level 1) – 2 Days (Saturday & Sunday) – FULL

Prerequisites:

• Annual Fireline Safety Refresher Training
• ICS 200
• ICS 300 is recommended
• S290 Intermediate Wildland Fire Behaviour is recommended
• Fire Officer 1 is recommended
• Engine Boss is recommended

Course Description:

The Task Force Leader workshop is designed for BC Municipal Fire Departments to meet BCWS training and practical requirements for regional wildfire deployments. The program will focus on wildland structural fire defence, BCWS specific documentation, risk management, tactical operations, and safety.

The program is based on the newly created BCWS Guide to Municipal Structure Protection Organization and Tactics for Wildland Deployment.

Course Structure:

The TFL Level-1, is a two-day/16-hour course designed to meet the training needs of a Task Force/Strike Team Leader.  The Task Force Leader (TFL) directs any combination of personnel, crews and different types of Incident Command System (ICS) equipment in performing tactical missions on a division or segment of a division, on wildland fire incidents. The TFL reports to a Division/Group Supervisor (DIVS), Incident Commander (IC), or other assigned supervisor. The TFL works in the operations functional area when requested by the BC Wildfire Service (BCWS).

Course Learning Objectives:

• Activation from the Provincial Wildfire Coordination Centre (PWCC), where to go, who to see, what to do.
• Understand BCWS camp environment, deployment readiness, protocols, camp etiquette etc.
• Understand crew and fire apparatus manifest, and the Inter-Agency working agreement.
• Review ICS, focusing on Structure Branch breakdown, and unity of command.
• Task Force Leader mindset, responsibilities, and duties. 
• Understand the Incident Action Plan (IAP), and how to use it as an operational and safety resource.
• Practice accountable and applicable documentation practices.
• Understand Structure Protection Specialist (SPS) roles and responsibilities.
• Understand technology: Survey123, Avenza maps, BCWS radio communications.
• Review fire behaviour, environmental conditions, situational awareness, and aircraft.
• Demonstrate the ability to apply Risk Management Process found in the BCWS Guide to Municipal Structure Protection Organization and Tactics for Wildland Deployment to various situations.
• Demonstrate the ability to apply appropriate tactics with assigned resources organized into the task force.

Task Force/Strike Team Leader (Advanced) – 2 Days (Saturday & Sunday) – FULL

Prerequisites:

• Task Force/Strike Team Leader Level-1 (TFL-1)
• S290 Intermediate Wildland Fire Behaviour is recommended
• ICS 200
• ICS 300 is recommended
• Fire Officer 1 is recommended
• Previous field experience as TFL

Course Description:

The Task Force Leader (advanced) workshop is designed for current Task Force Leaders or trained Task Force Leaders looking to complete their task book.  Over the 2-day program students will be working in field to build out tactical operations based on specific strategies assigned by the Branch Director.  Students will be evaluated and present their reasoning for tactical operations based on specific knowledge gained from the field, safety zones, expected fire behaviour, water supplies, interface environment, and resources available etc.  Safety will be the primary focus and students will be able to qualify in areas not completed in the TFL Task Book.

Course Structure:

The TFL Advanced, is a two-day/16-hour course designed to evaluate and improve on skills learned in the TFL Level 1 course.  The Task Force Leader (TFL) directs any combination of personnel, crews and different types of Incident Command System (ICS) equipment in performing tactical missions on a division or segment of a division, on wildland fire incidents. The TFL reports to a Division/Group Supervisor (DIVS), Incident Commander (IC), or other assigned supervisor. The TFL works in the operations functional area when requested by the BC Wildfire Service (BCWS).

Course Learning Objectives:

• Understand BCWS camp environment, deployment readiness, Protocols, Camp Etiquette etc.
• Understand crew and fire apparatus manifest, and the Inter-Agency working agreement.
• Review ICS, focusing on Structure Branch breakdown, and unity of command.
• Task Force Leader mindset, responsibilities, and duties. 
• Understand the Incident Action Plan (IAP), and how to use it as an operational and safety resource.
• Practice accountable and applicable documentation practices.
• Understand Structure Protection Specialist (SPS) roles and responsibilities.
• Understand technology: Survey123, Avenza maps, BCWS radio communications.
• Review fire behaviour, environmental conditions, situational awareness, and aircraft.
• Demonstrate the ability to apply Risk Management Process found in the BCWS Guide to Municipal Structure Protection Organization and Tactics for Wildland Deployment to various situations.
• Demonstrate the ability to apply appropriate tactics with assigned resources organized into the task force.

Structure Protection Base/Staging Manager – 2 Days (Saturday & Sunday) – FULL

Prerequisite courses:

• ICS 100
• ICS 200 is recommended
• SPP-WFF1
• S290 Intermediate Wildland Fire Behaviour is recommended

Course Description:

The Structure Base/ Staging Manager (STAM) is responsible for managing all activities within the Structure Staging Area and Structure Group; communication, accountability, check-in/ check-out procedures, administration, DTR’s and camp logistics. Under the direction of the Structure Branch Director, the base manager organizes Strike Teams and Task Forces for the Structure Defense/Protection Group. The STAM is responsible for coordinating general resource requests, financial reporting, and acts as an administrative liaison with the Incident Management Team.

Course Structure:

The Structure Protection Base Manager course is a two-day/16-hour course designed to meet the training needs of a BCWS Structure Protection Staging Area Manager (STAM).

Course Learning Objectives:

• Demonstrate the ability to identify and assemble materials and tools required for STAM responsibilities when dispatched to an incident.
• Demonstrate the ability to establish and maintain positive interpersonal relationships and lead by example while exhibiting the principles of respect and integrity.
• Demonstrate ability to manage check-in/ check-out procedures and administration documentation required for incident response.
• Distinguish procedures a STAM is responsible to adhere to when dispatched to an incident.
• Identify information that is presented during the briefings and gathered from the IAP.
• Identify factors necessary to establish and organize a suitable staging area.
• Identify and adhere to established procedure(s) for operating a staging area, using the proper chain of command according to ICS.
• Demonstrate ability to appropriately respond to resource and site support requests.
• Describe processes STAM must follow when coordinating with Incident Management Team.
• Identify the responsibilities of the STAM when it comes to demobilizing and closing out a staging area.

OPERATIONS COURSES 

Wildland Fire Fighter-1 ‘Train the Trainer’ – 2 Days (Saturday & Sunday) – FULL

Prerequisites:

• Wildland Fire Fighter-1 (WSPP-WFF1)

Course Description:

This course is designed to train local trainers and instructors on how to teach the Wildland Firefighter Level 1 training course. For provincial deployment to a wildfire incident structural firefighters must have either completed the WSPP-WFF1 workshop or the S-100 (Basic Fire Suppression and Safety) and S-185 (Fire Entrapment Avoidance and Safety).

Course Structure:

The Wildland Fire Fighter -1 (WSPP-WFF1) is a two-day/16-hours ‘Train the Trainer’ course. Participants will be qualified to instruct the Wildland Fire Fighter-1 course to meet BCWS standards.

Course delivery is approximately 50% classroom, 50% practical.

Course Learning Objectives:

• Prepare students to instruct the WSPP-WFF1 to fire department members.
• Provide basic understanding of the wildland urban environment.
• Provide knowledge to keep firefighters safe when responding to wildfire incidents.
• Effective communication at a wildland incident.
• Portable pump operations and hose lays.
• Introduction to wildland fire behaviour and weather.
• Strategies and tactics for firefighting in the wildland.
• Fire entrapment avoidance and safety.

Wildfire Operations ‘Boots on the Ground’ – 2 Days (Saturday & Sunday) – FULL

Prerequisites:

• S-100 Basic Fire Suppression and Safety is recommended
• S-185 Fire Entrapment Avoidance & Safety is recommended
• Wildland Fire Fighter-1 (WSPP-WFF1) is recommended
• Wildland PPE, Personal Fireline Pack, Personal Hand tool

Course Description:

Always a sold out program and delivered by the BC Wildfire personnel. This year, instruction would be co-delivered by staff from the Fraser Fire Zone and the Penticton Fire Zone.  This program will focus on what has changed in Wildland Urban Interface Firefighting Operations, Innovative Tactics, Safe Practices and current Water Delivery Methods.

Course Structure:

This two-day/16-hour mix of field exercises, WUI scenarios, gear innovations, demos and field training will be targeted to ensure WUI operational consistency between agencies during an expanding interface incident.

The target audience for this session is operational level fire fighters with an appetite to master boots on the ground skills, who love getting dirty doing it, and who don’t mind putting in the sweat to push the pace. Come walk the talk….

** Wildland PPE Required for all Filed Training Exercises (FTX). *Weather Dependant.

Course Learning Objectives:

• Learn and perform the necessary skills during incident stabilization.
• Decision making during the first operational period.
• Google Earth WUI Scenario – first operational period realities and hazards.Safety briefings – good vs bad / LACES.
• Common engine crew errors – WUI “watch out” situations.
• Wildland phases of control / tactical decision pros & cons / defendable ground.
• Danger trees / falling – recognise the hazard.
• Building containment lines – who’s doing what? – know your role / know the goal.
• WUI water delivery – do’s and don’ts – progressive hose lays.
• Technology assets and apps in the WUI.