Photo by DENISE ROSE

BHS students celebrate with Harney County Engagement Coordinator Darcy Patterson after compleing their course through TVCC.

Twenty-one junior and senior students at Burns High School recently completed a college-level Natural Resource 101 course embedded in their high school forestry class. The course is designed to prepare students for entry-level wildland firefighting and introduce them to careers in fire and natural resource management.

The class covered the fundamentals of wildland fire behavior, including how fuels, weather, and topography influence fire activity and firefighter safety. Students learned nationally recognized safety practices such as the Standard Firefighting Orders, Watch Out Situations, and the LCES system (Lookouts, Communications, Escape Routes, and Safety Zones).

Hands-on training was a key component of the course. Students were able to practice fire line construction using industry-standard tools and techniques, learned methods for extinguishing fires with and without water, and became familiar with wildland fire terminology. A required Field Day allowed students to demonstrate their skills in a practical, real-world setting.

All 21 students successfully completed the course and earned three industry-recognized certifications: L-180 Human Factors in the Wildland Fire Service, S-130 Firefighter Training, and S-190 Introduction to Wildland Fire Behavior.

By embedding this TVCC Natural Resource college course into a high school program, Burns High School students were able to gain valuable training, earn college credit, and take an important step toward future careers in wildland firefighting and natural resource fields.