The 1890 Land Grant Institution Wildland Fire Consortium has officially opened applications for its Student Firefighter Training Program. This initiative, developed in partnership with the U.S. Forest Service, aims to enhance minority participation in fire management and is modeled after Alabama A&M University’s successful FireDawgs program. Launched in 2009, FireDawgs works to increase student engagement in firefighting management.
The consortium comprises four Historically Black Colleges and Universities, including Alabama A&M, Florida A&M University, Southern University, and Tuskegee University. Students at these institutions receive comprehensive training and expertise in wildland fire management.
The Student Firefighter Training Program offers a fully funded educational experience that includes various events, workshops, and fieldwork designed to equip students with essential firefighting skills. Highlights of the program include:
– Kickoff Event: Montgomery, Alabama (Nov. 15-17, 2024)
-Professional Workshop & Drone Symposium: Florida A&M University (Feb. 21-23, 2025)
-Wildland Fire Training: Alabama A&M University (May 27-June 7, 2025), which includes meals and dorm accommodations
To qualify for this prestigious program, applicants must be full-time undergraduate students majoring in forestry, natural resources, or a related discipline, with a minimum GPA of 2.5. Participants will receive a $3,500 stipend, travel support for training and conferences, hands-on fire field training, and valuable fire certifications. The deadline to apply is Oct. 14, 2024.
The 1890 LGI Wildland Fire Consortium addresses the concerning underrepresentation of minorities in forestry and wildfire careers. According to the Society of American Foresters, White non-Hispanic individuals account for 91% of all bachelor’s degrees in agriculture and natural resources. African Americans and Hispanics represent only 1.9% and 3.6%, respectively.
The need for skilled personnel is increasingly urgent. During the peak of the 2022 fire season, over 70 large fires burned nationwide, requiring more than 22,000 responders—nearly three times the 10-year average for July.
