Two student-focused collaborative groups have been formed by members of the Education Committee and collaborators as part of the Student Fireline Project: the Student Rx Fire Collaborative Group and the Student Red Card System Collaborative Group. Learn more about each group from Jacob Tepsa, chair of the Education Committee, below.
Read about two initiatives from the Student Fireline Project!
Student Rx Fire Collaborative Group: The Student Rx Fire Collaborative Group supports student-focused experiential learning opportunities by assisting in the facilitation of national student collaborative burn events and connecting students from collegiate and high school fire clubs to these experiences.
The 2027 Student Collaborative Burn Week: A Learn & Burn Event is scheduled for January in Louisiana. This immersive, hands-on prescribed fire experience will focus on student learning in fire management while expanding networking opportunities for students from across the U.S. Participants will engage in all aspects of prescribed fire, including burn planning, ignition techniques, monitoring and evaluation, while learning how fire ecology and fire management come together in practice. The event is designed to expose students to the full cycle of prescribed fire and serve as a catalyst for workforce development as they transition into careers in land and fire management. We are currently in the planning stages for this initial event, which will be kept small to assess the layout and dynamics.
Student Red Card System Collaborative Group: The Student Red Card System Collaborative Group supports student participation in wildfire and prescribed fire opportunities by helping higher education institutions establish partnerships and qualification pathways that allow students to obtain red card certifications and build fire experience prior to entering the workforce.
Many wildfire and prescribed fire opportunities require individuals to already hold a red card through a hosting agency. To address this barrier, the group works to connect higher education institutions with local fire management professionals and agencies to establish or maintain MOU agreements that support student training and qualification pathways. In addition to supporting existing collaborations, the group is exploring ways to create a more streamlined and accessible system for students entering the fire workforce. Long-term goals include helping students enter IQCS/IQS prior to employment, build qualifications before graduation, and develop opportunities for student-based crews during academic breaks that can support prescribed fire and wildfire response efforts.
If you would like to assist with these efforts, please email info@studentfirelineproject.org with your interest.
