Individuals deployed through the State Emergency Response Plan (SERP) for wildland firefighting must be trained to 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 Incident Command System (ICS)
- S-130, Firefighter Training or FL equivalent course
- S-190, Introduction to Wildland Fire Behavior or FL equivalent course
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-100, Introduction to the Incident Command System (ICS)
- I-200, Basic Incident Command System for Initial Response
- S-130, Firefighter Training or FL equivalent course
- S-190, Introduction to Wildland Fire Behavior or FL equivalent course
- 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-100, Introduction to the Incident Command System (ICS)
- I-200, Basic Incident Command System for Initial Response
- S-130, Firefighter Training or FL equivalent course
- S-190, Introduction to Wildland Fire Behavior or FL equivalent course
- S-215, Fire Operations in the Wildland-Urban Interface or FFCA Fire Operations in the Interface (FOI) training
- S-330, Strike Team Leader or FL equivalent course
Training Options for S-130 and S-190 or Equivalent Courses
Please note: FL equivalent courses and “S” courses taught by non-National Wildfire Coordinating Group (NWCG) certified instructors are only valid for the purposes of SERP (in-state) deployment.
NWCG qualifications are required for out-of-state wildland fire deployment. NWCG qualifications require NWCG courses to be taught by NWCG-certified instructors. If you want to be able to deploy to wildland fires outside of Florida, be sure to receive your training through Option 1 or Option 2 below.
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 NWCG instructors.
Option 3
National Fire Academy Online Courses: Q-900 and Q-901. Read the
Florida Forest Service's Position Statement
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regarding course delivery requirements for Florida.
Certification
Training records and qualifications for the purposes of SERP (in-state) deployment are maintained by the employing department; they are not maintained by Florida Forest Service.
The Florida Forest Service maintains NWCG records and qualifications. Documentation for certification can be submitted at any time during the year.
To be recognized as an NWCG-qualified resource for out-of-state deployment, 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 [ Adobe PDF Document ] 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.