Wildland Firefighting Classes Gain Popularity

Thursday, June 18, 2009

Wildland firefighting classes at Clackamas Community College this spring saw enrollment double over past years. The class is so popular this year that instructors had to work with area fire agencies to provide equipment for field exercises in late May.

“The class usually maxes out at 15; this year we’re at 30 students,” said instructor Tom Laugle. “I think it’s the economy. People are training for seasonal positions.”
Introduction to Wildland Firefighting introduces students to wildland fire behavior and the skills necessary to fight wildland blazes under supervision. The class gives students an edge in applying for work as a wildland firefighter with agencies such as the Oregon Department of Forestry, United States Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management and private contractors. CCC, which has offered the course for several years, has one of the largest wildland firefighting programs in the state.

CCC borrowed equipment from the Oregon Department of Forestry in Astoria and Molalla to outfit the equipment-heavy field exercises that concludes students’ course in May.

For more information about CCC’s Wildland Firefighting program, contact Paul Wanner at 503-657-6958, ext. 2691.