The Monterey County Fire Training Officers Association is proud to present the 2008 Wildland Fire School. Coined by many as one of the premier wildland fire schools on the west coast, the school offers firefighters of all experience levels the opportunity to receive wildland training under live fire conditions. The school has been highly successful for over 20 years. The reason for this success is the active participation of so many fire agencies throughout California.

The Monterey County Fire Training Officers Association wished to provide safe, effective, and enjoyable training for all participants attending the school. To do this, we must ensure that all personnel are appropriately equipped and prepared to participate in active wildland firefighting operations. The following "Participant Expectations" are what the command staff of the school has developed to ensure that everyone receives the best possible experience at the school.

All participants are REQUIRED to have a complete set of NFPA approved Nomex® or fire-resistive cotton personal protective equipment. This shall include helmet, eye protection, shroud, wildland shirt/jacket, wildland pants, leather lace-up boots, wildland firefighting gloves, harness with fire shelter, and an appropriate method to hydrate (water bottle, canteen, CamelBack®, etc). All equipment shall be in good repair and free from defect. Structural firefighting PPE IS NOT PERMITTED in lieu of wildland PPE.

Wildland helmets are recommended, however, structural firefighting helmets are permitted. Regardless of the type of helmet, a wildland shroud (protecting the ears, neck, and face) is required.

Approved firefighting goggles are required during active firefighting. Sunglasses (including safety glasses) are not an acceptable alternative. Sunglasses are permitted during non-direct firefighting operations.

Leather lace-up boots with lug soles are the approved footwear for the fire school. Boots that are constructed of a combination of leather and non-leather materials (similar to the Rockies® style boot) do not provide adequate foot protection or support and are not permitted during active firefighting operations. Leather lace-up boots that incorporate a zipper for donning and doffing are acceptable.

Both the old and new generation fire shelters are permitted. Every participant at the school shall be required to have a shelter.

Personnel attending the fire school shall be qualified for the position that they are operating in. This qualification is determined by the individual’s organization. A guideline for organizations to use in determining minimum qualifications is the Wildland Qualifications System Guide 310-1.

Company officers should have a combination of training and experience that would be equivalent to Intermediate Wildland Fire Behavior (S-290), Engine Boss (S-231), and Incident Command System (I-200) certifications. Company officers shall also have the authority to make decisions for their agency pertaining to their apparatus and crew, as needed.

Apparatus operators shall have the necessary skills to operate the piece of equipment that the agency has committed to the school. Apparatus operators shall possess a valid driver’s license appropriate for the vehicle he/she is operating. Apparatus operators should also possess minimum qualifications outlined for firefighters.

Firefighters should have a combination of training and experience equivalent to California State Firefighter I certification. Firefighters should also possess training equivalent to Introduction to Wildland Fire Behavior (S-190).

The Wildland Fire School is conducted in the same fashion as a real fire incident. All facilities are established to ensure a safe and effective training environment is provided. Base, camp, staging areas, fueling sites, and food sites are all provided to support the school. There will be representatives from local, state, and federal agencies participating in the event. Elected officials and media representatives will be on site touring the facilities and the fireline. It is crucial that all personnel conduct themselves in a fashion that brings positive light on the representative agencies and the fire service as a whole.

The Mobile Kitchen Unit is staffed by inmates of the California Department of Corrections in cooperation with CALFire. Interaction with inmates in any fashion is forbidden. This includes conversations, messages, and any physical contact. Polite communications such as "please" and "thank you" when interacting with the food servers is not a violation of this rule.

The school is conducted at Fort Hunter Liggett, which is an active duty military post. We are guests at the facility and should treat it accordingly. All roadway laws shall be adhered to. Be aware of troop movement and military vehicles. Fort Hunter Liggett range control maintains strict guidelines for the cleanliness of the areas occupied by the fire school. Proper respect of the facilities will ensure a continued positive relationship between the training officers and Fort Hunter Liggett for future training opportunities.

Drinking or possession of alcohol is not permitted at any time during the fire school.

Firearms, knives, and other weapons are not permitted at the school. Pocket knives, multi-purpose tools (e.g. Leatherman Tool®, etc), and other similar personal items are permitted and not considered a violation of this rule.

Active firefighting operations occur during the wildland fire school. It is imperative for the safety of all personnel that they meet appropriate physical fitness standards. It is the responsibility of the participating agency to ensure that participants meet the physical requirements necessary for the positions they will hold at the wildand fire school. A guideline for levels of physical fitness is provided below from the NWCG 310 document.

Arduous – Duties involve field work requiring physical performance calling for above-average endurance and superior conditions. These duties may include an occasional demand for extraordinarily strenuous activities in emergencies under adverse environmental conditions and over extended periods of time. Requirements include running, walking, climbing, jumping, twisting, bending and lifting more than 50 pounds; the pace of work typically is set by the emergency situation.

Moderate – Duties involve field work requiring complete control of all physical faculties and may include considerable walking over irregular ground, standing for long periods of time, lifting 25 to 50 pounds, climbing, bending, stooping, squatting, twisting and reaching. Occasional demands may be required for moderately strenuous activities in emergencies over long periods of time. Individuals usually set their own work pace.

Light – Duties mainly involve office type work with occasional field activity characterized by light physical exertion requiring basic good health. Activities may include climbing stairs, standing, operating a vehicle and long hours of work, as well as some bending, stooping or light lifting. Individuals almost always can govern the extent and pace of their physical activity.

None – Duties are normally performed in a controlled environment, such as an incident base or camp.

It is expected that all equipment sent by participating agencies is in good working order and free from safety defects. This is imperative for the safety of school participants. A pre-mobilization self-check will be required for each piece of equipment upon arrival at the incident base.

No open cab apparatus will be permitted at the wildland fire school.

Each apparatus must be equipped with seats and seatbelts for each person riding on the apparatus. Personnel will not be allowed to ride on the apparatus in any location other than a properly equipped seat as designed by the apparatus manufacturer.

All apparatus should be fueled prior to arrival at the incident base. Fuel is available in both King City and Paso Robles (each approximately 45 minutes away from the base). A fuel tender will be available at the base. The rate per gallon for fuel is adjusted to cover the costs of the fuel supplier.

Apparatus should arrive with water tanks full and ready for an assignment.

All agencies participating in the Wildland School shall have the ability to communicate on all frequencies in the incident communications plan. The communications plan will be distributed with the confirmation packets.

Departments who have attended the school before are pre-approved to register for the Blacklining Operation on Thursday, before the actual instruction begins. This operation involves units firing out from roads and wet lines to create a blackline, firebreak completely around the school to prevent escape fires. Departments who have not attended the school before, but wish to register for the Blacklining Operation must get approval from the Incident Commander before the April 30 registration deadline. Incident Commander David Sargenti can be contacted at (831) 455-1828 or chiefsargenti@hotmail.com

Prior registration is essential for determining logistical support. Since attendance at the school is limited, prompt completion of the registration information and payment will ensure a place in the school. Waiting lists will be maintained for both engines and individuals that send in their registration payment. If predetermined openings are not filled by the closing date, engines and individuals will be accommodated on a first come, first serve basis. Letters confirming that you have been approved to attend the Wildland Fire School will be sent out after May 7, 2008. Refunds will be granted to registrants who sent in payment but were not accepted into the school or who cancel prior to May 18, 2008. NO REFUNDS WILL BE GRANTED FOR CANCELLATIONS MADE AFTER MAY 18, 2008.

All departments participating in the Fire School must have a signed Acknowledgement of Participants Expectation Statement, Statement of Insurance, Hold Harmless Agreement from the Fire Chief of your department. Those departments that do not have this will not be registered and will not be allowed to participate in the Wildland Fire School.

A CERTIFICATE OF COMPLETION will be issued to all persons who attend and participate in the 2008 Wildland Fire School. In order to receive a CERTIFICATE OF COMPLETION, a completed Monterey Peninsula College application form must be turned in during check-in. CERTIFICATES OF COMPLETION will be sent to agencies or individuals within 30 days following the completion of the school.

Check-in will commence at 0600 each day. All incoming apparatus are to report to the Staging Area located at Incident Base and complete the School check-in procedures. Upon check-in, crews will be assigned to a training branch and will be directed to the appropriate branch parking area in Staging where all apparatus and personnel will be inspected for operational readiness (see Premobilization Checklist). Enclosed with your confirmation letter will be a Monterey Peninsula College (MPC) registration form for each participant, these forms must be filled out and turned in during check-in.

Eight (8) meals will be provided for those attending the school. These meals include:

Vegetarian meals will be provided to individuals who request such meals when they register.

Quiet areas will be set-aside in base camp for sleeping. Those planning to stay overnight need to bring a cot, sleeping bag, and personnel items (bug/snake proof tents are recommended). GROUND SLEEPING WITHOUT A COT IS STRONGLY DISCOURAGED.

DAILY SCHEDULE: (The daily schedule is subject to change by the Wildland School staff)

Payment accompanied with the Registration Sheet insures placement in the school. At the closing date for registration, any pre-designated slots allocated for Monterey County Fire Departments will be released to departments applying for registration to the school on a first come first serve basis dependent upon receipt of payment.

Fire Chief Signature Date