Wildland firefighting is a foundational discipline within natural resource and emergency management, covering a broad range of topics including fire behavior, suppression tactics, firefighter safety, and human factors in decision-making. With increasing wildfire activity driven by climate change and land management challenges, understanding fire is more relevant than ever to both communities and ecosystems. This course introduces students to the core principles of wildland firefighting through a blended format of online instruction, interactive modules, and field-based learning.

The curriculum follows National Wildfire Coordinating Group (NWCG) standards and includes three entry-level courses: S-130 (Firefighter Training), S-190 (Introduction to Wildland Fire Behavior), and L-180 (Human Factors in the Wildland Fire Service). Students will explore topics such as fire behavior fundamentals, suppression techniques, leadership under stress, and the ecological role of fire. The course is designed to be accessible to individuals from any background, and no prior fire experience is assumed.