Breadcrumb
Education
The Humboldt Fire Resilience Institute will provide an important role in supplying the next generation of firefighters, fire scientists, managers, practitioners, and ecologists over the coming decades. Given the increasing impacts of wildfire on many public and private sectors, there will be a burgeoning need to provide California and other regions with knowledgeable fire professionals to promote fire resilience. Promising undergraduate and graduate students are attracted to Cal Poly Humboldt by its distinguished reputation in fire science, forestry and other natural resource science disciplines. A primary goal for the Humboldt Fire Resilience Institute will be to help provide and support the education, training, and experience of undergraduate and graduate students in the fields of fire science and management.
Technical Fire Courses
Providing continuing education opportunities for fire professionals remains a challenge for many public and private employers, in spite of the increasing educational requirements within many agencies. Humboldt has an on-going and past record of offering continuing education opportunities. A primary focus of the institute will be to reinvigorate our Wildland Fire Studies Institute and establish agreements with federal, state, non-governmental organization, and industry partnerships.
Prescribed Fire Training
Reducing the long-standing fire deficit in the western U.S. will depend upon substantially increasing the application and use of fire to reduce fuels and protect resources. The institute will collaborate with numerous partners to facilitate the expansion of prescribed fire and adaptive fire management training opportunities available to students and practitioners. Through the work of numerous state, federal, Tribal, NGO, and private partners, northern California is quickly establishing itself as a progressive center for fire application.
Experiential Learning
The Cal Poly Humboldt Wildland Fire Lab is one of only three indoor fire labs in the U.S. located within a university. In addition to conducting fire science research, the lab also serves as an effective educational tool to promote experiential learning for students. We will focus on enhancing the research and educational capabilities of the fire lab. We will also further develop experiential learning opportunities for our students in collaboration with community partners through internships and summer employment.
Fire Education
Addressing wildland fire and fuels challenges will depend on educating the next generation of fire scientists and managers. Cal Poly Humboldt is an established educational leader in fire science and has one of the largest wildland Fire undergraduate education programs in the nation. Future efforts will focus on expanding the program offerings at Humboldt, and formalizing agreements with community colleges and training centers to increase the number and diversity of fire professionals.