National Wildfire Coordinating Group

S-495, Geospatial Fire Analysis, Interpretation, and Application, N/A

S-495 Decorative banner: Four photos of wildland fire operations. Two weather technicians stand next to a RAWS weather station reviewing notes. Two firefighters inspect an area smoldering on a hillside. A geographic information specialist sits in front of computer reviewing a map. A large plume of smoke rises from a fire in the distant mountains.

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Description

This course was developed using a blended approach to learning. Students are required to complete the online training portion of the course prior to taking the instructor-led training (ILT).

The primary purpose of this course is to provide the knowledge base for developing short-, mid-, and long-term geospatial fire analysis for the Long Term Analyst (LTAN) and Fire Behavior Analyst (FBAN). This course conveys the latest processes and technology to assess weather, climatology, historic fires, fuels, and biophysical attributes to develop deterministic and probabilistic fire growth for various timeframes. Concepts taught will help an LTAN and FBAN perform at an acceptable level on a national basis without regard to geographic boundaries. The course is presented by distance learning, lectures, electronic presentations, and class discussion.

Objectives

  • Prepare future LTANs with advanced geospatial fire analysis, interpretation and application skills, preparatory for S-590.
  • Introduce future FBANs to geospatial fire analysis, interpretation and application skills preparatory for completing task book items related to geospatial analysis.
  • Equipment Technical Specialists with geospatial fire analysis, assessment, and interpretation skills.
  • Provide continuing education to qualified LTANs, FBANs, and technical specialists by providing the most recent advancements in geospatial fire analyses.

Target Group

  • Personnel desiring to be qualified as Long Term analyst (LTAN) or a Technical Specialist in Geospatial Analysis (GIST) or Fire Behavior Analyst (FBAN) completing position task book items relating to spatial fire analysis.
  • Qualified LTANs, FBANs, and Technical Specialists seeking training on recent advancements; personnel using fire behavior models to assist in fuels planning, fire planning or ecosystem restoration; line officers faced with fire management decisions; Incident Commanders; and personnel preparing data for analysis. 

Prerequisite Qualifications and Training

  • S-490, Advanced Wildland Fire Behavior Calculations
  • S-491, Intermediate National Fire Danger Rating System
  • Satisfactory completion of pre-selection assessment.

Students not seeking certification can access the online self-paced lessons without prerequisites.

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.

 

Delivery

S-495 is available as a blended online training and classroom instructor-led training.

Course Components and Hours to Complete

Course Component Course Time
Pre-course work N/A
Pre-selection assessment 4
Online training 116
Instructor-led training 40
Total Hours 160

Course Level

National

Minimum Instructor Qualifications

Lead and unit instructors must be qualified as Long Term analyst (LTAN), Fire Behavior Analyst (FBAN), Incident Meteorologist (IMET), Technical Specialist, or someone with expertise in GIS with verified fire experience developing geospatial fire behavior analyses or providing data for such analyses. Lesson instructors must have applied experience with the materials being presented.

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

 

Print Training Overview Page

 

 

Functional Area: 
Planning
Primary Committee: 
Fire Environment Committee
Steward: 
S495 Geospatial Fire Analysis Interpretation and Application Course Steering Committee
Required For: 
LTAN
Page Last Modified / Reviewed: 
2023-05-30

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