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New training resources

Loggers and foresters have long been a valuable resource during wildfire season because of their heavy equipment skills and forest knowledge. They are also often the first to spot or report a fire.

Loggers skilled at using equipment designed to cut down trees, move branches/timber slash and building logging trails can assist with wildfires by creating and clearing fire lines.

These forest industry partners are often relied upon as needed during fire season. The Idaho Department of Lands provides fire training to allow these individuals to qualify to assist IDL-managed wildfire.

Certification Tracking: The Operator/Forester supplies the Industrial Contractor with proof of training. The Industrial Contractor retains proof of completion. IDL issues Certification Cards on proof of training. Anyone requesting to become certified must be sponsored by an Industry Contractor. All VIPR contractors must complete all training through a private contractor.

In person or self-paced: Some of the training can be completed in person but because of workload the self-paced training is preferred. 

Certifications

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Industry Forester - Technical Specialist (THSP) (31.5 hours)

Once someone is qualified as an Industry Forester – Technical Specialist, they can work with equipment on IDL fires on their lands when NWCG qualified personnel are unavailable. IDL does not expect the Industry Forester to be committed beyond initial attack of the fire. Exceptions can be made where technical expertise may be needed to meet suppression, salvage, or rehabilitation objectives.

Equipment Operator (EQOP) (2.5 hours)

Once qualified as an Equipment Operator they can work on both initial attack and extended attack fires for the Idaho Department of Lands. 

Training Requirements

Idaho Department of Lands Local Office Contacts

Priest Lake Supervisory Area Dave Thornton, Fire Warden
4053 Cavanaugh Bay Rd.
Coolin, ID 83821
(208) 443-2516

St. Joe Supervisory Area
Cory Flesher, Fire Warden
1806 Main Ave.
St. Maries, ID 83861
(208) 245-4551

Payette Lakes Supervisory Area Scott Corkill, Area Manager
555 Deinhard Ln.
McCall, ID 83638
(208) 634-7125

Pend Oreille Lake Supervisory Area
Brian Hicks, Fire Warden
2550 Highway 2 West
Sandpoint, ID 83864-7305
(208) 263-5104

Ponderosa Supervisory Area Michael McManus, Fire Warden
3130 Highway 3
Deary, ID 83823
(208) 877-1121

Southwest Supervisory Area
Casper Urbanek, Fire Warden
8355 W. State St.
Boise, ID 83714
(208) 334-3488

Kootenai Valley
Nate Rogers, Fire Warden
Forest Protective District
6327 Main St.
Bonners Ferry, ID 83805
(208) 267-5577

Clearwater Supervisory Area    Jay Sila, Area Manager
10230 Highway 12
Orofino, ID 83544
(208) 476-4587

Eastern Supervisory Area
Pat Brown, Area Manager
3563 Ririe Highway
Idaho Falls, ID 83401
(208) 525-7167

Mica Supervisory Area
Andrew Smyth, Area Manager
3258 W. Industrial Loop
Coeur d’Alene, ID 83815
(208) 769-1577

Maggie Creek Supervisory
Area
Kevin Chaffee, Fire Warden
913 Third St.
Kamiah, ID 83536
(208) 935-2141

Jerome Field Office
(part of the Eastern Supervisory Area)
324 S. 417 E., Suite 2
Jerome, ID 83338
(208) 324-2561

Cataldo Forest Protective
District
Chris Myers, Fire Warden
80 Hilltop Overpass Rd.
Kingston, ID 83839
(208) 682-4611

Craig Mountain
Jeremiah Miller, Fire Warden
Forest Protective District
P.O. Box 68
014 E. Lorahama
Craigmont, ID 83523
(208) 924-5571

Clearwater-Potlatch Timber
Protective Association
Kane Steinbruecker, Chief Fire
Warden
10250 US-12, Orofino, ID 83544 (208) 476-5612

Southern Idaho Timber Protective Association
Paul Wagner, Chief Fire Warden 555 Dienhard Lane
McCall, ID 83638
(208) 634-2268

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