National Wildfire Coordinating Group

S-190 Introduction to Wildland Fire Behavior

S-190 Decorative banner. Group of photos depicting wildland firefighters performing various duties.

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Description

This is the first and foundational wildland fire behavior course in a five-course sequence in the NWCG curriculum.  It introduces students to the basic concepts of wildland fire behavior, including:

  • The primary wildland fire environment components: fuels, weather, and topography;
  • How characteristics and interactions of fuels, weather, and topography affect fire behavior;
  • How fire behavior affects risk to firefighters.

Objectives

Upon completion of the course, the student will be able to:

  • Describe the basic terminology used in wildland fire.
  • Identify and discuss the fire triangle.
  • Identify and discuss key characteristics of the primary wildland fire environment components - fuels, weather, and topography.
  • Identify critical fire weather factors that, combined with receptive fuels, may result in extreme fire behavior.
  • Recognize how alignment of fuels, weather, and topography can increase the potential for extreme fire behavior.
     

Target Group

Personnel desiring to be qualified as entry-level firefighters and support personnel.

NOTE:  Be sure to check agency-specific guidelines; some agencies may have different requirements.

Prerequisite Qualifications and Training

None

Session Offerings

Sessions of this course may be available in the NWCG Wildland Fire Learning Portal (WFLP). Enrollment requires an account. Log on as a guest to search for session offerings of this course and to view other public content. To search for a specific course, use the FIND LEARNING menu at the top of the page, then select UPCOMING COURSES. To view Geographic Area training schedules, select the specific GEOGRAPHIC AREA information using the drop-down menu at the top of the page. Contact your local Training Officer for more information about local course sessions.

 

Course Components and Hours to Complete

Component Hours:  Instructor-Led Hours:  Self-Directed
Instructor-led training 7 N/A
Pre-course work N/A N/A
Pre-selection assessment N/A N/A
Online Training N/A 6-8
Recommended Total Hours 7 6-8

Minimum Instructor Qualifications

  • Lead instructor must be a qualified Single Resource Boss (CRWB, HEQB, ENGB, FELB, FIRB, and HMGB).
  • Unit instructors must be qualified as Firefighter Type 1 (FFT1).

See NWCG Standards for Course Delivery, PMS 901-1, Instructor Standards for more information.

Certification Date:

S-190 Online Training, 2023-01

S-190 Instructor-Led Training, 2020-02

Previous Certification Dates:

  • 2016-10
  • 1994-05
  • 1983-01
  • 1976-01

 

Print Training Overview Page

 

Functional Area: 
Operations
Primary Committee: 
Required For: 
FFT2, IADP, PIO3, STAM
Page Last Modified / Reviewed: 
2024-01-29

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