2026 Spring Nebraska Wildland Fire Academy: April 11, 2026- April 19,2026

The Nebraska Forest Service will be hosting the 2025 Spring Nebraska Wildland Fire Academy in Gering, Nebraska.

The Nebraska Wildland Fire Academy provides high-quality training through experienced wildland fire instructors from around the country to ensure training needs for Nebraska's firefighters and the surrounding region are met.

Whether you are new to firefighting or have years of experience behind you, the classes offered at the Nebraska Wildland Fire Academy will not only grow your wildfire knowledge but also enhance specific skills necessary for safely suppressing wildfires or conducting a prescribed fire.

• Tuition is $75.00 per day for class, and S-112 is $85.00 per day per class
• Tuition will be 100% refundable till 12 hrs before class starts, after that time refund will go down to 1/3 the cost. After class ends no refunds will be allowed.

• Tuition covers class materials and rental of the facilities.

• Lodging and meals are the responsibility of the academy participants. There are numerous lodging and meal amenities in Gering, NE.

Info: An introductory but required class for Red Card qualification. You will gain knowledge of basic incident management organization, firefighting techniques, suppression equipment, safety, strategy/tactics, and fire behavior. Includes 1 full day of Field Training.

Info: An introductory but required class for Red Card qualification. You will gain knowledge of basic incident management organization, firefighting techniques, suppression equipment, safety, strategy/tactics, and fire behavior. Includes 1 full day of Field Training.

Info: Course is designed to meet the needs of the Advanced Firefighter Type 1 (FFT1). The course is interactive and contains several tactical decision games designed to facilitate learning the objectives and class discussion. Topics include: fireline reference materials, communication, leadership, and tactical decision making.

Info: The intent of this course is to provide students with the tools and techniques to make the transition from single resource to Incident Commander Type 4.

Info: This course will introduce instructional units including firefighter safety in the interface, managing human factors in the interface, pre-incident planning, size up and initial strategy, structure triage, structure protection overview, tactics in the interface, tactical operations and resource use in the interface, action assessment, plan update, and after action review.

Info: This course is designed to provide students with the knowledge and skills to perform the duties of the Crew Boss (CRWB) position, as described in the NWCG Incident Position Standards for Crew Boss, PMS-350-98. Topics include travel and check-in in, briefings, assigning tasks and assessing crew performance, implementing fire line duties, mop-up, firing operations, using aerial resources, medical emergencies, and wildland urban interface.

Info: This is a skill course designed to produce student proficiency in the performance of the duties associated with Engine Boss, Single Resource (ENGB). Topics include engine and crew capabilities and limitations, information sources, fire size up considerations, tactics, and wildland/urban interface.

Info: The course introduces the roles and responsibilities of a Firing Boss, Single Resource (FIRB), and outlines duties of other personnel who may engage firing operations. The course discusses and illustrates common firing devices and techniques. Although comprehensive in nature, the course work is not a substitute for the dynamic fire environment. The course provides students with important information regarding general tasks required to be successful.

Info: This BLENDED course is designed to provide students with the knowledge and skills to perform the duties of the Basic Faller (FAL3) position, as described in the NWCG Standards for Wildland Fire Chainsaw Operations, PMS-212.

Online Training (OLT) Component: The focus of the online training is to teach knowledge and concepts. Students are required to complete the Online component of the course and pass the assessment prior to taking the Instructor-led component. The course lessons provide introduction to the function, maintenance and use of internal combustion engine powered chainsaws, and their tactical wildland fire application. The Online component should take approximately 4 hours to complete.

Instructor-Led Training (ILT) Component: The Instructor-led training will reinforce the content learned online and provide opportunities to apply this knowledge to real-world scenarios and practical exercises. Field exercises

Info: This is a classroom-based skills course designed to prepare the prospective fireline supervisor to undertake safe and effective fire management operations. It is the second course in a series that collectively serves to develop fire behavior prediction knowledge and skills. Fire environment differences are discussed as necessary; instructor should stress local conditions.

Info: This is intended for those individuals who completed the NWCG S-190, S-130, and L-180 online through the Wildland Fire Learning Portal (WFLP), and need the required field portion to complete the training. If you are signed up for the instructor lead Red Card class, you do not need to sign up for this portion.

Info: This training course is designed as a self-assessment opportunity for individuals preparing to step into a leadership role. The course combines one day of classroom instruction followed by a second day in the field with students working through a series of problem-solving events in small teams (Field Leadership Assessment Course). Topics include leadership values and principles, decision-making tools, transition challenges for new leaders, situational leadership, team cohesion factors, ethical dilemmas, and briefing and debriefing techniques. Some course delivery may be arduous in nature.

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Host or Publisher Nebraska Forest Service