EcoCultural Fire Trainings
The Tribal EcoRestoration Alliance offers a series of trainings as part of the Lake EcoCultural Cal-TREX to support our community in safely and effectively implementing prescribed and cultural fire.
Our trainings focus on learning about good fire through an EcoCultural Stewardship lens.
EcoCultural Stewardship is the practice of tending a landscape in a way that is ecologically restorative while also building reciprocal relationship between people and the land, where we tend plants and animals that are culturally significant as materials for Native culture, including foods, medicine, tools, clothes, and ceremony.
Many of our trainings also incorporate curriculum from the National Wildfire Coordinating Group (NWCG) and support building NWCG qualifications for fireline positions.
TERA’s EcoCultural Fire Trainings build knowledge and skills to bring good fire back to our lands.
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This five-day hands-on introductory course combines ecocultural fire content with NWCG Basic Wildland Firefighter curriculum (ICS-100, L-180, S-130, and S-190).
Includes work capacity test (WCT) and practice shelter deployment, and meets NWCG requirements for qualification as Firefighter Type 2 (FFT2).
Online completion of IS-700 is required prior to the start of the course.
Two date options are available (choose one when you apply):
Monday-Friday, Aug 19-23, 2024
Pinoleville Pomo Nation, Ukiah
OR
Monday-Friday, Sept 23-27, 2024
Robinson Rancheria, Upper Lake
PLEASE NOTE: Participation in all 5 days of this course is required. We do not offer a standalone S-130 Field Day and pack test/shelter deployment.
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Full-day ands-on training in cultural fire concepts and practices, including reading the landscape, fire by friction, culturally significant plants, and more. For beginning and experienced fire practitioners.
Tuesday, Aug 27, 2024
Hopland Rancheria, Hopland
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This one-day course is the required annual refresher training for NWCG positions. Includes lessons learned from the past year, seasonal weather outlook, operational safety, work capacity test (WCT), and shelter deployment. Prior qualification as FFT2 or above is required.
Saturday, Sept 21, 2024
Big Valley Rancheria, Lakeport
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Two-day hands-on fireline skills building workshop, including ignition devices, firing techniques, UTV and mobile attack, hose lays, plant identification and fire ecology, weather observations, wetline/blackline operations, spot fire suppression, and more.
This training is strongly recommended for anyone wishing to join our on-call EcoCultural Fire Crew and burn with us in the 2024-25 Lake TREX Prescribed and Cultural Fire Training Exchange, regardless of experience level.
This training is important for learning, sharing, and sharpening skills at the beginning of our burn season as well as building relationships among EcoCultural Fire Crew members and the staff of Tribes, organizations, and agencies participating in the Lake TREX.
Monday-Tuesday, Sept 30 - Oct 1, 2024
Middletown Rancheria, Middletown
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This two-day NWCG course covers the roles and responsibilities of a firing boss (FIRB) for planning, execution, safety, coordination, and evaluation of an ignition operation on a wildland or prescribed fire. Working with a burn unit that is part of the Lake County TREX, students will prepare a firing plan and briefing that contains desired fire behavior, firing techniques, required resources, coordination, safety and risk management factors, and communication, to meet specific objectives.
Prerequistes: Qualified as Firefighter Type 2 (FFT2) and participation in at least 3 cultural or prescribed burns.
Tuesday, December 3 - Wednesday December 4, 2024
Location TBA
Applications will open in October for this course, acceptances sent on a rolling basis
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This two-day NWCG course is designed as a self-assessment opportunity for individuals preparing to step into a leadership role. The course combines one day of outdoor classroom instruction followed by a second day in the field with students working through a series of problem solving events in small teams. Topics include leadership values and principles, transition challenges for new leaders, situational leadership, team cohesion factors, ethical decision-making, and after action review techniques.
Prerequistes: Qualified as Firefighter Type 2 (FFT2) and participation in at least 3 cultural or prescribed burns.
Monday-Tuesday, March 24-25, 2025
Location TBD
Applications will open in early 2025, acceptances sent on a rolling basis
Trainings are held primarily outdoors in Lake and Mendocino Counties.
Individuals from all backgrounds and regions are welcome to apply. Priority acceptance for local, Native community members in Lake, Mendocino, and Sonoma Counties.
Thanks to the generosity of our grant partners, these trainings are offered at no cost. Stipends are available for Tribal member participants upon request. Non-Native participants who are accepted to trainings are highly encouraged to contribute a sliding scale donation to TERA to support our work (suggested donation $25-$150 per day of training). If you have questions about these trainings, please call (707) 278-8019 or Contact Us Via Email.
