Cultivating the next generation of wildland firefighters at a Reno high school

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

The first high-school level program of its kind in the Washoe County School District, CTE pairs curriculum-based classroom lessons with hands-on, skills-based training, preparing students with foundational knowledge and practical skills essential for careers in wildland firefighting.

"We are grateful for the partnership with BLM, which allows our students to learn from wildland fire professionals," said AACT Principal, Mike Gifford when students joined a BLM firefighter training scenario in April 2024.  "Experiences like ‘mock fire’ training enrich our curriculum and inspire students to pursue careers in fire science." 

BLM Nevada, Truckee Meadows Fire Protection District (TMFPD), and Living with Fire at University of Nevada - Reno partnered to pilot the five-semester program in the 2023-24 school year, delivering 47, 90-minute classes for sixteen students, grades 10 – 12. In the first semester, TMFPD instructors introduced students to careers in structural firefighting.

Due to high demand, CTE increases this year to 141 classes and 46 students, almost three times as many as last year, and now including grade 9. It also expands from a three- to four-year program. Students graduating spring 2026 will be eligible for BLM wildland fire crew positions at age 18.  

Classroom lessons are aligned with National Wildfire Coordinating Group (NWCG) curriculum standards, adapted by LWF to meet a high school audience.

This January, new BLM-taught curriculum expands to include courses in human factors affecting wildland firefighting, such as stress management and communication. Wildland fire behavior courses introduce crucial elements to effective and safe firefighting, such as fire cause, spread, and identifying origin area. In courses focused on managing initial attack and complex fire incidents, students will understand roles, responsibilities, scene protection, use of resources, and interagency coordination. In a fire prevention course, students will put their learning into practice and develop their own fire prevention campaigns.

Outside the classroom, students put learning into action, working in teams to practice initial attack procedures, hose deployment, bladder bag use, and radio communications. Thanks to LWF grant funding, students will use the same field equipment that wildland firefighters use, such as portable pumps and hand tools used to cut fire lines in remote and rugged areas. They’ll use specialized personal protective equipment (PPE), clothing and tools that protect firefighters from wildfire hazards.

In the program’s pilot year (2024), students joined a BLM wildland firefighter training that stimulates real-world wildfire scenarios in realistic settings to bolster firefighters’ skills.

During the spring 2025 semester, students will expand their fieldwork experience, emergency response skills, and practice specialized skills alongside BLM firefighters in the field on two field trips.

BLM’s goal is to introduce and pave the way for meaningful careers in wildfire, creating a skilled and well-prepared workforce. 

“As the threat of wildfire increases every year, so does the increased demand for trained wildland firefighters,” said Brock Uhlig, State Fire Management Officer, BLM Nevada. "Our goal is to ignite a passion in students for protecting Nevada communities and public lands through wildland fire management.”

Students are introduced to a diversity of career paths, regularly interacting with subject matter experts such as engine captains, meteorologists, and fire prevention specialists.

“Empowering the next generation of stewards is not just a duty—it's a shared responsibility to nurture and protect our public land,” said Uhlig.

BLM Nevada Training Instructor, Jen Diamond, is the lead BLM instructor in the CTE 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."