Course Description: This three-day course will highlight the Resource Advisor for Wildland Fire role, and exceed N-9042 requirements for READ and REAF training. Basic aspects of the Resource Advisor for Wildland Fire role will be covered throughout the course, which is recommended for anyone interested in becoming a Resource Advisor (READ or REAF). In addition to "general" Resource Advisor, this course will pay particular attention to, and focus on, the Wilderness resource: and will also address all-hazard situations.

The Resource Advisor for Wildland Fire is assigned by the agency administrator as a technical specialist providing resource guidance to incident management teams. The position is important because of the potential impacts of fire on natural and cultural resources and the increased awareness of fire impacts by the general public, local landowners, public officials, and the media. Fire managers consider the input of the resource advisor in the fire use planning effort, development of suppression tactics, and the identification of emergency fire rehabilitation needs.

Course Objectives:
Upon completion of the 3.5 day interagency course, participants will be able to:
• Explain the duties and responsibilities of a wilderness fire resource advisor; and
• Understand the basics of fire use, suppression, fire planning, and the Incident Command System and how the Resource Advisor (READ, REAF, or Technical Specialist) can contribute to accomplishment of fire, wilderness, and other resource management objectives.
• Calculate fire behavior outputs using available fire behavior processors.
• Interpret, communicate, apply, and document wildland fire behavior and weather information.

Target Group: Wilderness, fire, wildlife, fisheries, botany, and heritage resource staff, and other staff from land management agencies who are interested in becoming or have already been a fire resource advisor. This course will provide an excellent opportunity for fire and wilderness specialists and other resource areas to work together to better understand the challenges of fire suppression on our natural landscapes.

 

Course Prerequisite:

None; however, the following skills have been identified as useful in this position:
--Ability to acquire knowlege of local politics and Land Use Plans (e.g., local community, county, tribal, interagency, general management plans, Wilderness Plans, Natural/Cultural Resource Management Plans, and Fire Management Plans).
--Ability to acquire knowledge of the affected area including, but not limited to, topographic features, vegetation types, critical area, types of visitors and inhabitants, improvements, roads, hazards, etc.
--Basic knowledge of fire and fire suppression impacts on natural and cultural resources.
--Map reading and handheld Global Positioning System (GPS) navigation skills.
--Ability to plan for and implement fire rehabilitation treatment.

Greg Salansky

National Park Service

(865) 414-6461

greg_salansky@nps.gov