S491 - Intermediate National Fire Danger Rating System

Reviewed: 2003     Hours: 32

Course Description:

The course develops the knowledge and skill to operate, maintain and manage the NFDRS at the local unit. Course lecture and exercises support practical and technical application of the intellectually complex subject matter. The course requires a computer classroom with internet access to present.

Objectives:

• Upon completion of this course the student will demonstrate the knowledge and skills necessary to operate, apply, and manage the National Fire Danger Rating System.

Target Group:

The course lessons and exercises support training for dispatchers and others charged with editing and inputting weather information into WIMS used for NFDRS calculations, fire management staff who apply NFDRS outputs to decision making, and fire behavior specialists who incorporate NFDRS products into assessments and projections.

Minimum Instructor Qualifications:

It is highly recommended that the entire faculty has either successfully completed Advanced NFDRS at NAFRI or is an instructor for Advanced NFDRS at NAFRI. Faculty selection is the responsibility of the lead instructor, with administrative support from the course coordinator.

It is highly recommended that course coordinators consult with the Advanced NFDRS Steering Chair when selecting the lead instructor to present this course.

Unit Instructors: At a minimum, have completed S-491 or one of the geographic area courses taught previously, preferably has attended the Advanced NFDRS course. The Unit leader must be competent in all the areas of emphasis within the unit, and able to teach any of the lessons or provide answers to detailed questions about the lesson’s content, and provide leadership to coaches. The lesson instructors should be competent and comfortable in presenting the content of the lesson, answering technical questions on the lesson subject matter, and have expertise with the course software sufficient to coach students through course exercises.

Prerequisites:

Demonstrate at least intermediate skills with the current Windows™ operating system.

Possess a valid Weather Information Management System (WIMS) logon identification.

Have successfully completed Intermediate Wildland Fire Behavior, S-290.

Successfully complete the pre-qualifying work with a minimum passing score of 70% or higher.

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 9-25-2008.

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