National Wildfire Coordinating Group

RT-130, Wildland Fire Safety Training Annual Refresher (WFSTAR)

RT-130 Decorative banner. Group of photos depicting wildland firefighters performing various duties.

 

WFSTAR 2023 Core Component Module Packages

Watchout Situation #17 Terrain and fuels make escape to safety zones difficult.Local Topics

  • Fire Year In Review 2022
    • Revisit significant events and statistics from the 2022 fire season. Identify lessons learned to prepare for the future. Explore intelligence sources to independently enhance big picture situational awareness.
  • Devils Creek Fire
    • Review the events of the Devils Creek Fire Entrapment and discuss significant lessons learned.
  • Vehicle Safety Operations Module (Hub Locking and 4WD Operation, Parked Regen for Diesel Engine, and Tire Information and Inspection)
    • Firefighters are exposed to risk while driving on a constant basis. By becoming knowledgeable about your vehicle, its maintenance, and proper use of its components; you can increase your effectiveness on the fire line and decrease your risk while driving.

Standard Firefighting Order #2 Know what your fire is doing at all times.Incident Reviews and Lessons Learned

  • Lauder Fire
    • The Lauder Fire occurred on September 29, 1987 in the coast range mountains of north western California. The combination of dense fuel loading, poor communication, and human factors resulted in 1 firefighter fatality and 4 burn injuries.
  • Golden Gate Estates
    • The Golden Gate Estates Fire occurred on January 30, 1985 near Naples, Florida. The combination of unprecedented strong cold fronts, no significant rainfall, extremely dry fuel conditions and human factors resulted in 1 firefighter fatality and 11 burn injuries.

Watch Out Situations #5. Uninformed on strategy, tactics, and hazards.Fire and Aviation Operational Safety

  • Working with Heavy Equipment
    • Wildland firefighters perform dangerous work around heavy equipment. Regardless of position or crew type, all firefighters must be equipped to work near heavy equipment. Review Heavy Equipment and other useful references in the IRPG Operational Engagement pages to better prepare yourself when working near heavy equipment.
  • The Tenth Order: A Smokejumper Perspective
    • Explore and discuss aggressive initial attack, safety culture, and risk management using the tenth standard firefighting order as an anchor point.

Standard Firefighting Order #9 Maintain control of your forces at all times.Human Factors, Communication, and Decision Making

  • Digital Maps
    • Explore digital, geo-referenced topographic maps on mobile devices for use in initial and extended attack. Practice downloading and sharing digital maps on your smartphone or tablet using public domain sites and free applications. 
  • Wildland Fire Mental Health
    • Highlights the importance of mental health in wildland fire. The video also emphasizes the importance of work-life balance and highlights the resources available to help those in need.
  • Wildland Fire Investigation and Fire Origin Protection
    • Define the role of fire investigation in both fire prevention and fire suppression. Define the role of first responder in fire investigation. Review fire origin protection best practices for first responders during initial suppression. Explore paths to becoming a Wildland Fire Investigator.

photo of deployed fire shelterFire Shelters and Entrapment Avoidance

Resources

 

Page Last Modified / Reviewed: 
2023-03-29

Please Provide Feedback

NWCG values your constructive input and we thank you for taking the time to provide feedback.

Although contact information is optional, we hope that you provide a way for us to contact you in case we need clarification on your comment. If you would like to be contacted regarding your feedback, you must provide contact information. 

Due to recent hacking behavior, we are temporarily suspending our ability to upload documents.  If you need to attach additional information, please email the file to BLM_FA_NWCG_Webmaster@blm.gov.

CAPTCHA
This question is for testing whether or not you are a human visitor and to prevent automated spam submissions.