This course will provide a consistent knowledge and skill base for the Wildland Fire Investigator (INVF). The concepts taught in this course will help the investigator perform at an acceptable level on a national basis without regard to geographic boundaries. The course is presented by lectures, electronic presentations, field exercises, and class discussion.
Information on the course content can be found here: FI-210, Wildland Fire Origin and Cause Determination.
The five-day class will be held at the Corona Fire Department Training Center by a cadre of NWCG-certified instructors from USFS and CALFIRE. Instructional activity materials will be provided. Prior to attending the course, students will be required to complete pre-course materials through the NWCG Wildland Fire Learning Portal.
The NFA will reimburse airline travel (or mileage, at GSA rates, if driving). Airline tickets should be purchased AFTER March 18, 2024, due to possible course changes. The student should purchase a nonrefundable, economy coach-class ticket, and travel on the days listed in the announcement (3/31/2024 and 4/6/2024). Students may depart the evening of Friday, April 5th, if they prefer; however, the class does not conclude until 4:00 p.m. and flight reservations for Friday evening must include allowances for travel time from Corona, CA.
Student Stipend Agreements forms will be emailed to each accepted student during the class. The student will need to provide a copy of their airline ticket, a blank-voided check, and a copy of the hotel receipt to be reimbursed. This information can be scanned/emailed to Crystal.Arnold@fema.dhs.gov with 30 days of the course end date. Requests received after the 30-day deadline may be denied.andnbsp;
For students flying to Corona, CA, they have multiple options. 1) Ontario International Airport (ONT), 2) John Wayne Airport - Orange County (JWA), or 3) Los Angeles International Airport (LAX). All three airports are less than an hour drive from Corona, CA.andnbsp;andnbsp;If the location of the class changes, new airport information will be provided.
The NFA will reimburse hotel rooms (up to the federal per diem rate - $184 / night for six nights). You must provide a hotel receipt (your name must appear on the receipt) to be reimbursed.
Students will be responsible for meals and rental cars.
*NOTE* Applications for this course will be accepted from January 29-February 9.
Priority will be reserved for full-time public service personnel with wildfire or wildland arson investigative responsibilities. This course is targeted to the new wildland fire investigator. This course uses the NWCG Wildland Fire Learning Portal for content delivery, assignments, and examinations, a laptop or tablet is required to attend this course.
This course will be limited to 42 students.
Successful completion of the following CFITrainer.net modules:
1. Fire Dynamics in the Wildland
2. Wildland Fire Investigation
Applicants must provide a copy of their CFITrainer.net transcript along with their admissions application verifying that they have successfully completed the requisite training modules listed above.
In addition to the CFITrainer.net modules, if applicants do not already have an account established, applicants must create an account in the NWCG Wildland Fire Learning Portal prior to submitting an application to the NFA Admissions Office.