S490 - Advanced Fire Behavior Calculations

Reviewed: 2010     Hours: 44 - 47

Course Description:

S-490, Advanced Fire Behavior Calculations, is the fourth course in a series designed to develop fire behavior and prediction knowledge and skills. This course prepares students for S-590, Advanced Fire Behavior Interpretation which addresses the skills for Fire Behavior Analyst and Long Term Fire Analyst positions. The course material is presented in an instructor led approach to learning. Examples and exercises are divided between wildfire and prescribed fire applications. Students learn to project fire perimeter growth based on weather predictions, and knowledge of fuels and topography, using a variety of scenarios. Classroom time is approximately 40 hours.

Objectives:

• Collect and evaluate fire behavior prediction model inputs and compute wildland fire behavior using advanced techniques.
• Use fire behavior models to predict fire growth in varied terrain.
• Define likely conditions for extreme fire behavior and potential impacts on safety.
• Interpret, communicate, apply, and document wildland fire behavior and weather information.

 

Target Group:

Personnel desiring to be qualified as a fire behavior analyst (FBAN), long term fire analyst (LTAN), or other fire personnel who would benefit from this course. The target audience for this course includes the following:
• Rural Firefighters who are primarily volunteers sponsored by NWCG
• Municipal Firefighters who are primarily full-time employees sponsored by NWCG
• NWCG Federal and State Wildland Firefighter

Minimum Instructor Qualifications:

Lead and unit instructors must be qualified fire behavior analysts (FBAN), long term fire analysts (LTAN), or prescribed fire burn boss type 1 (RXB1).

Also see Instructor Certification at the beginning of the Field Manager's Course Guide.

Prerequisites:

Introduction to Wildland Fire Behavior Calculations (S-390).

Proficiency using non-automated fire behavior processors:

• Nomograms
• Fireline Handbook, Appendix B

Proficiency using the latest computerized Fire Modeling System is required. 

Pre-selection Assessment (2-3 hours)
Successfully complete Pre-selection Assessment with a passing grade of 70% or better to be accepted into the course. Test is located at: http://training.nwcg.gov/pre-courses.html

Pre-course Review (2-4 hours)
Pre-course study materials located on the student CD to prepare for the Pre-selection Assessment. Pre-course study material is located at: http://training.nwcg.gov/pre-courses.html

 

Offer Level:
Regional, state, or area

This Course Description is verbatim from the NWCG Field Manager's Course Guide (156 page PDF: Adobe Acrobat Reader required) and accurate as of 2-7-2011.

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