BLM supports young, aspiring firefighters

In January 2025, Bureau of Land Management (BLM) wildland firefighters launched the second year of the Fire Science Career and Technical Education program (CTE Fire) at the Academy of Arts, Careers & Technology high school (AACT) in Reno.

CTE Fire blends classroom learning with hands-on training, equipping students with the essential knowledge and skills for careers in wildland firefighting. It’s the first program of its kind in the Washoe County School District.

Hands-on training

Students actively participate in practical training exercises that allow them to apply what they've learned in the classroom to real-world situations.

Outside the classroom, students apply their learning through practical training exercises in the field. This firsthand experience allows them to implement firefighting skills in realistic scenarios and gain valuable insights into the complexities of wildfire management. In 2024, students enhanced their skills on a field trip with training that simulated an actual wildfire situation.

This year, the program has expanded to two field trips, offering students even more opportunities to practice emergency response techniques alongside experienced BLM firefighters. They develop critical skills in initial attack procedures, hose deployment, bladder bag usage, and radio communications. Students are training with professional-grade wildland firefighting equipment, made possible through the support of Living with Fire at the University of Nevada, Reno. This includes portable pumps, PPE (personal protective equipment), and hand tools to create fire lines in remote and rugged areas.

Preparing the next generation is a shared responsibility

The CTE Fire program is led by BLM and Truckee Meadows Fire Protection District instructors and follows national wildland firefighter curriculum. LWF adapted National Wildfire Coordinating Group (NWCG) curriculum to specifically meet high school audiences. 

As Brock Uhlig, State Fire Management Officer for BLM Nevada, states, “Training future firefighters is vital to protecting Nevada communities and public lands. Empowering the next generation of stewards is not just a duty—it's a shared responsibility. Partnership drives the program’s success.”

BLM Nevada achieves its mission, reducing wildfire risk throughout the state, through strategic and collaborative community partnerships.

"Our goal is to provide students with real-world skills and the confidence to pursue careers in firefighting," said AACT Principal Jason Mattick. "Our partnership with BLM allows students to learn directly from wildland firefighters. Experiences like field trips and mock fire training inspire them to see how their skills can help protect their community."

Students become eligible for BLM fire jobs

AACT provides eight different vocational education programs for students to choose from. Each program prepares students for employment in a specific trade or technical field with career-specific skills.

When BLM piloted the CTE Fire program last year it was a three-year program with 47 classes for its first year (2023-24). It was made available for grades 10 – 12. Sixteen students chose to opt in.

But due to high demand, CTE Fire is expanding. In the current school year (2024 – 25), the instructors are teaching 141 classes for the 46 students that chose to study fire. (Three times as many as last year!) And it’s been restructured from a three- to four-year program so students can join as early as the ninth grade.

Students who graduate next spring (2026) will be eligible for BLM fire crew jobs.

Classroom curriculum for firefighters

BLM is preparing students with an expanded curriculum too, incorporating multiple new NWCG courses into the program the year. 

Students will learn about human factors in wildland firefighting, such as stress management and communication. Wildland fire behavior courses will cover essential elements for effective and safe firefighting, including fire causes, spread patterns, and how to identify origin areas. In courses focused on managing initial attacks and complex fire incidents, students will learn about roles and responsibilities, scene protection, resource use, and interagency coordination. In a fire prevention course, students will apply their knowledge to develop their own fire prevention campaigns.

Cultivating informed citizens 

As the threat of wildfire continues to grow in Nevada, the demand for trained wildland firefighters increases as well.

The CTE Fire program paves the way for students to pursue meaningful careers in wildfire, creating a skilled and prepared workforce.

"BLM's goal is to cultivate informed individuals who understand that the skills they acquire in fire science can be used in their careers and to protect their community," said Uhlig.

Students are exposed to a variety of career paths and regularly interact with subject matter experts, including engine captains, meteorologists, and fire prevention specialists.

BLM Nevada Training Instructor, Jen Diamond, is the lead instructor for the CTE Fire program. 

"I've truly enjoyed being part of these students' development and watching them grow, both in skill and maturity,” said Diamond. “It’s incredibly rewarding to help shape the next generation of wildland firefighters and see their passion for protecting our communities and landscapes take root."