FFCA/SERP Wildfire Resource Deployment

The Florida Forest Service has the responsibility to ensure that individuals deployed through the State Emergency Response Plan (SERP) for wildland firefighting have been trained at a minimum level. This training will include firefighter safety, basic firefighting, fire behavior and fire tactics for the wildland urban interface.  

To accomplish this task, the Florida Fire Chiefs Association (FFCA) with assistance from the Florida Forest Service has established three positions for eligible fire department personnel: Firefighter, Engine Leader and Engine Strike Team Leader, and identified the minimum qualifications for each position.

Qualifications for Fire Department Personnel

Firefighters

Firefighters are the second, third and/or fourth person on the apparatus.

Minimum Qualifications

Firefighters must have completed all of the following courses:

• I-100, Introduction to ICS
• S-130, Basic Wildland Firefighting
• S-190, Introduction to Wildland Fire Behavior, or Florida Fire Behavior (FFB) training.

Engine Leaders

An engine leader is the lead person on the apparatus.

Minimum Qualifications

Engine leaders must have some experience in suppressing wildland fires. They must also complete all of the following courses:

• I-200, Basic ICS
• S-130, Basic Wildland Firefighting
• S-190, Introduction to Wildland Fire Behavior
• S-215, Fire Operations in the Wildland-Urban Interface, or FFCA Fire Operations in the Interface (FOI) training

FFCA Strike Team Leaders

Minimum Qualifications

The strike team leader must be qualified in the local jurisdiction as a company officer or higher and experienced in directing suppression of wildland fires. The strike team leader must have completed all of the following courses:

• I-200, Basic ICS
• S-130, Basic Wildland Firefighting
• S-190, Introduction to Wildland Fire Behavior
• S-215, Fire Operations in the Wildland-Urban Interface
• 330, Strike Team Leader

Training Options for S-130 and S-190 or Equivalent Courses

Option 1

Classroom courses provided by Florida Forest Service. Contact your local county Forest Area Supervisor.

Option 2

Classroom courses delivered by a fire department certified instructor (with approved instructor agreement through the Florida Forest Service) and Florida Forest Service oversight/assistance. View training information for National Wildfire Coordinating Group Instructors.  

Option 3

Fire in the Field Distance Learning (FIF-100DL) Web-ROM delivery method ($75.00 per student). Contact the Florida Forest Service Fire Training Officer.

Option 4

National Fire Academy Online Courses: Q-900 and Q-901. Read the Florida Forest Service's Position Statement [ 198 kB ] regarding course delivery requirements for Florida.

Certification

The Florida Forest Service will certify firefighters, engine leaders and engine strike team leaders on an annual basis. Documentation for certification can be submitted at any time during the year.

To be recognized as a qualified resource for one of these positions, individuals must supply the following documentation to the local Florida Forest Service Forest Area Supervisor or the local Florida Forest Service office:

• IQS Data Collection/Data Entry Form[ ] and
• Copies of the training certificates for the required courses

After receipt of all documentation, the local Florida Forest Service office will enter the information into the Incident Qualification System to document the individual's qualifications. If the person is interested in deploying outside the state of Florida or their department requires it, an Incident Qualification Card (Red Card) will be issued to the individual. The Florida Forest Service will provide the SERP coordinator with updated lists of personnel and their qualifications for in-state SERP deployments.

Additional Information

• Florida Forest Service's Current Training Schedule