The 12th Annual South Dakota Wildland Fire Academy was held in Pierre, SD
March 13 through March 16, 2025.
All wildland fire training presented at the South Dakota Wildland Fire Academy
meets the standards set forth by the National Wildfire Coordinating Group (NWCG).
Participants needed to register no later than February 28. Registration fee was a non-refundable $35 per student, payable by credit card or check (checks payable to SD Dept of Public Safety and mailed to Tamara Dierks, SD Wildland Fire, 3305 W South St, Rapid City SD 57702 or brought to the first day of class.
- No meals were provided with this training, but the area had a variety of food options including fast food and sit-down restaurants.
- Students needed to attend the entire class to receive credit. No exceptions made.
- Students had to provide all wildland PPE to participate in field exercises: hard hat, eye protection, leather gloves, Nomex shirt/pants, fire shelter, line gear (if available), and boots.
- Classes began at 0800 (Central Time Zone) on their respective days where listed in the class schedule.
- Thank you to the agencies and individuals that help ensure the academy's growth and success each year.
What a year 2024 was! The season in South Dakota started early, we stayed in PL5 nationally for months (including being in PL5 on October 17 this year which is the latest ever in history), and multiple incident management teams were still out in late October. In the Black Hills area, we have had over 200 fires this year with more than 900 acres burned. Thankfully this provided many opportunities for training and task book work. Plus, firefighters were able to gain experience working in a variety of fuel types, topography, and geographic areas!
SD Wildland Fire will continue to concentrate our class offerings on those that help with up-ward growth in wildland fire. We also provide great filler courses that aren't required for qualifications but will help you become a better firefighter such as L280 - Followership to Leadership. I hope to see you at some trainings this winter season and have a safe 2025 fire season!
Sincerely,
Tamara
*S-219 is slated for three days dependent on a live fire field day. If conditions aren't conducive to burning, the class will be two days. We will let you know as early as possible if this is the case.
We highly suggest finding lodging early, as hotels fill quickly in this area.
S-130 Basic Wildland Firefighter, S-190 Introduction to Fire Behavior,
L-180 Human Factors in the Wildland Fire Service
Start: Thursday, March 13, 2025, 0800
End: Sunday, March 16, 2025, 1700Location: Drifters Conference Center, 325 E Hustan Avenue, Fort Pierre, SD
Prerequisites: Complete IS100 and IS700 online (information sent with class letter).
Course Description: The intent of S-130 is to train new firefighters in basic firefighting skills and includes a required field exercise. S-190 Introduces students to the basic concepts of wildland fire behavior including: the primary wildland fire environment components; how characteristics and interactions of fuels, weather, and topography affect fire behavior; and how fire behavior affects risk to firefighters. L-180 exposes students to human performance concepts as part of basic wildland fire training. These courses are required to become a basic wildland firefighter (FFT2).
S-131 Firefighter Type 1 Training
Start: Saturday, March 15, 2025, 0800End: Sunday, March 16, 2025, 1400 Location: Capital City Campus, 925 E Sioux Avenue, Pierre, SD
Prerequisites: Qualified as Firefighter Type 2 (FFT2)/No pre-course work required.
Course Description: S-131 is a course designed to meet the training needs of the Firefighter Type 1 (FFT1) and/or Incident Commander Type 5 (ICT5). It is designed to be interactive in nature and contains class discussion and several tactical decision games designed to facilitate learning the objectives. Topics include operational leadership, communications, LCES, and tactical decision making. This course is required for Firefighter Type 1 (FFT1) and Incident Commander Type 5 (ICT5).
S-230 Crew Boss and S-231 Engine Boss (Blended Course)
Start: Saturday, March 15, 2025, 0800
End: Sunday, March 16, 2025, 1700
Location: Capital City Campus, 925 E Sioux Avenue, Pierre, SD
Prerequisites: Must be qualified as a Firefighter Type 1 (FFT1) and have successfully passed S-290 Intermediate Wildland Fire Behavior. Must also satisfactorily pass the pre-work modules.
Special Instructions: Pre-course work instructions will be sent to all students who have submitted nominations.
Course Description: This course was developed using a blended approach to learning, meaning that it contains a mix of online and instructor-led training (ILT). Students are required to complete the online training portion of the course and pass an online assessment prior to taking the ILT. The ILT will reinforce the content learned online and provide opportunities to apply this knowledge to real-world scenarios and practical exercises. Upon completion of the ILT, students must then take and pass a final assessment in order to receive credit for the course. The final assessment covers content from both the online and ILT portions of the course. This course is required for all Single Resource Boss Positions.
S-330 Task Force/Strike Team Leader
Start: Friday, March 14, 2025, 0800
End: Sunday, March 16, 2025, 1700
Location: Capital City Campus, 925 E Sioux Avenue, Pierre, SD
Prerequisites: Must be qualified as a Single Resource Boss. Pre course work is required and must be completed before class.
Special Instructions: Pre-course work instructions will be sent to all students who have submitted nominations.
Course Description: This course will demonstrate how to apply the Risk Management Process found in the IRPG to various incidents. It will identify and describe the responsibilities of a TFLD/STEN. It will also demonstrate the ability to apply appropriate tactics with assigned resources organized into strike teams or task forces. This course is required for all Task Force Leader and Strike Team Positions.
S-290 Intermediate Wildland Fire Behavior
Start: Thursday, March 13, 2025, 0800
End: Friday, March 14, 2025, 1700 (Due to updated curriculum, the course length has been shortened)
Location: Ft. Pierre Volunteer Fire Department, 305 Deadwood Street, Fort Pierre, SD
Prerequisites: Completion of S-190 Introduction to Wildland Fire Behavior and satisfactory complete of pre-course work.
Special Instructions: Pre-course work instructions will be sent to all students who have submitted nominations. Attendance in the class is dependent upon completing this on the due date which is typically a week before class!
Course Description: 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. This course is required for Prescribed Fire Burn Boss Type 3 (RXB3) and all Single Resource Bosses.
L-280 Followership to LeadershipStart: Saturday, March 15, 2025, 0800
End: Sunday, March 16, 2025, 1700
Location: Capital City Campus, 925 E Sioux Avenue, Pierre, SD Prerequisites: Satisfactory completion of the pre-course work and successful completion of L-180 Human Factors in the Wildland Fire Service.
Special Instructions: Pre-course work instructions will be sent to all students who have sub-mitted nominations.
Course Description: 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 leader-ship values and principles, transition challenges for new leaders, situational leadership, team cohesion factors, ethical decision making, and after-action review techniques. Some course delivery may be arduous in nature. This is a great Leadership and Development Course.
S-219 Firing Operations
Start: Friday, March 14, 2025, 0800*
End: Sunday, March 16, 2025, 1700
Location: Capital City Campus, 925 E Sioux Avenue, Pierre, SD
Prerequisites: Must be qualified as a Firefighter Type 2 (FFT2) and satisfactorily complete the pre-course work before class.
Special Instructions: Pre-course work instructions will be sent to all students who have submitted nominations.
Course Description: This course uses a blended approach to learning with both online and Instructor Lead Training (ILT). Students are required to complete the online training portion of the course prior to taking the ILT. The course introduces the roles and responsibilities of a firing boss (FIRB) and outlines duties of other personnel who may engage in firing operations. It also 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. This course is required for State of South Dakota employees and cooperators pursuing the Prescribed Fire Burn Boss Type 3 (RXB3) qualification. *The class may start on Saturday, not Friday, if burning conditions aren't conducive to live fire.