News

Stakeholders Meet to Discuss the Wildland Fire Assessment Program

Published Date: 02.03.2012

In January, a group of stakeholders, including representatives from the National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC), United States Forest Service, National Fire Protection Association, Insurance Institute for Business and Home Safety, International Association of Fire Chiefs, and the International Code Council, met to discuss details of a new course being developed through the Wildland Fire Assessment Program (WFAP).

The two-year Wildland Fire Assessment Program is a joint effort by the U.S. Forest Service and the NVFC to provide firefighters with training on how to properly conduct assessments for homes located in wildland fire areas. This will be the first program targeted to volunteers that specifically prepares a firefighter for how to conduct an assessment and what to look for during an assessment, as well as provides departments with the printed materials they may need.

The stakeholders reviewed a list of existing resources for wildland fire planning and conducting home assessments and identified several gaps in training and resources. The NVFC will now focus on creating or modifying existing resources in order to address the identified gaps. When completed, this module-based course will be available in an online format, as well as through live classroom sessions in ten locations determined by need, rates of wildland fire incidents, and geographic diversity.

Any department or Fire Corps program that would like request that a live WFAP classroom session be held in their area or anyone who would like to be added to the email list for updates on the program can fill out the WFAP online form. The in-person courses will be offered starting this summer; stay tuned to the NVFC web site and Dispatch newsletter for more details.

About the U.S. Forestry Service
The mission of the U.S. Forest Service is to sustain the health, diversity, and productivity of the Nation’s forests and grasslands to meet the needs of present and future generations. The Agency manages 193 million acres of public land, provides assistance to State and private landowners, and maintains the largest forestry research organization in the world. Learn more at www.fs.fed.us.

About the NVFC
The National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC) is the leading nonprofit membership association representing the interests of the volunteer fire, EMS, and rescue services. The NVFC serves as the voice of the volunteer in the national arena and provides invaluable tools, resources, programs, and advocacy for first responders across the nation. The NVFC also administers Fire Corps, a Citizen Corps program that connects community volunteers with their local fire and emergency service departments to assist in non-emergency tasks. Learn more at www.nvfc.org and www.firecorps.org.

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