Overview
Field Coordinators or Assistant Field Coordinators for the National Interagency Prescribed Fire Training Center (NIPFTC) act as the leads and mentors for the Rx Fire Leadership Modules to ensure accountability, cohesion, and safety. They facilitate high quality experiential learning opportunities to develop the next generation of prescribed fire practitioners. NIPFTC also relies on the Field Coordinators to maintain and enhance the positive relationships with our interagency cooperators that host us.
Past Field Coordinators with NIPFTC have found the experience challenging and rewarding, resulting in many that return year after year.
FY26 RX Leadership Module Schedule
Fall Sessions
Session 1: 10/06/2025 through 10/22/2025 (Flagstaff, AZ)
Session 2 (Fire Effects Module): 10/14/2025 through 10/23/2025 (Flagstaff, AZ)
Winter/Spring Sessions
Session 1: 01/05/2026 through 01/22/2026 (Tallahassee, FL)
Session 2: 02/16/2026 through 03/05/2026 (Tallahassee, FL & Tulsa, OK)
Session 3: 03/09/2026 through 03/26/2026 (Tallahassee, FL & Tulsa, OK)
Session 4: 04/06/2026 through 04/23/2026 (Tallahassee, FL & Rapid City, SD)
Session 5: 04/27/2026 through 05/14/2026 (Boise, ID)
-
The schedule consists of a Field Coordinator orientation that goes over expectations and duties, followed by a session orientation with presentations covering safety, ignition techniques, fire research, and lessons learned. The session orientation also includes field trips covering fire planning and implementation, fuels, research and fire ecology. During the session, Field Coordinators and students will move within the geographic region learning from various prescribed fire programs and taking advantage of burn opportunities. Burning may occur on federal, tribal, state, and private cooperator sites. On the last day, Field Coordinators and students will closeout with NIPFTC Staff.
Interested in being a Field Coordinator?
- Fill out the following Field Coordinator outreach form - https://forms.office.com/r/0tC5Fdexwi. We will email you when our session applications are open.
- You can also visit our link on the Wildland Fire Learning Portal - https://www.wildlandfirelearningportal.net/course/view.php?id=3298, for session information.
Cost and Requirements
- All costs for travel, per diem, salary, and overtime will be the responsibility of your home unit. NIPFTC will provide transportation during the session.
- You must have a current Incident Qualification Card - Field Coordinators must be RXB2 qualified, and Assistant Coordinators must be FIRB and either CRWB or ENGB qualified.
- The Field Coordinator works closely with the students to ensure teachable moments that occur before, during, and after prescribed fire implementation are identified and discussed. This requires the Field Coordinators to have a breadth of experience and qualifications. On non-burn days, the Field Coordinator should be prepared to lead discussions and instruct on relevant, related, and meaningful topics with the module. Field Coordinators must have strong leadership skills, enthusiasm for teaching, and be able to answer questions on technical aspects of prescribed burning.
- Field Coordinators will be required to complete both fieldwork and administrative duties including submitting daily data entries and ensuring vehicle and equipment accountability and maintenance.
- Field Coordinators will be with a group of six to seven individuals, day and night, during their detail. Experience leading a module or crew is beneficial.
- Applications from disciplines other than fire management are encouraged to apply.