Alaska Department of Natural Resources Division of Forestry & Fire Protection

Basic Wildland Firefighter Training

The Division of Forestry and Fire Protection offers Basic Wildland Firefighter Training courses (Red Card Class) every spring across the state, as well as virtual instructor-led classes in February of each year. These courses prepare you inside and outside the classroom, with a well-rounded understanding of what a firefighter can expect in the field. Keep all your certificates.

PRE-WORK:

IS-100 (Intro to Incident Command), 2 hrs: An introductory look at the organizational structure used to manage emergencies.
IS-700 (Intro to National Incident Management System), 3.5 hrs: Basic understanding of National Incident Management System (NIMS).

COURSES:

S-130 (Firefighter Training): Teaches foundational hands-on field skills. You’ll learn how to use hand tools, lay hose lines, and set up portable pumps.
S-190 (Intro to Wildland Fire Behavior): Focuses on the Fire Triangle - heat, fuel & oxygen - and how weather, wind, and topography affect how a fire spreads.
L-180 (Human Factors in the Wildland Fire Service): Covers situational awareness, rise management, the 10 Standard Firefighting Orders, and the 18 Watchout Situations.
S-130P (Firefighter Training Practical): One-day field exercise which allows new firefighters to apply the classroom training and exposes them to a controlled scenario designed to give them real experience to help prepare for their forest wildfire assignment.

WORK CAPACITY TEST, Arduous:

3-mile walk over level terrain, in 45 minutes or less while carrying a 45-pound pack; required for ALL basic and advanced wildland firefighters.

All Basic Wildland Firefighter Training has been completed for 2026. Please return to this page in November for the 2027 schedule. If you have any questions, please contact your local area office or regional training specialist.

• Carrie Hale, State Training Program Coordinator – (907) 987-0319
• Jacqueline Aman, Statewide Training Specialist – (907) 761-6212
• Sunshine Meitzner, Northern Region Training Specialist – (907) 370-3099
• • Delta Junction Area Forestry: (907) 895-4225
  • Fairbanks Area Forestry: (907) 451-2635 or (907) 451-2651
  • Tok Area Forestry: (907) 883-1400
• Kelly Gisolo, Coastal Region Training Specialist – (907) 761-6264
• • Southeast Area Forestry: (907) 766-2120
  • Kenai-Kodiak Area Forestry (Soldotna): (907) 260-4200
  • Mat-Su Area Forestry (Palmer): (907) 761-6340
  • Southwest Area Forestry (McGrath): (907) 524-3010
  • Valdez/Copper River Area (Glennallen): (907) 822-5534