Created in 2001, SCA Fire Corps began as the Fire Education Corps in partnership with the Bureau of Land Management, Bureau of Indian Affairs, and National Park Service. Teams across the country worked in education and prevention of fire in communities. In subsequent years, the FEC expanded into fire management and monitoring with all federal land management agencies. SCA Fire Corps teams are currently active in three broad areas: Fire Monitoring, Fire Education, and Fire Management.
The SCA Fire Corps members serve in teams lasting from 12 weeks to 6 months, stationed in a single location. A typical team consists of a Project Leader and up to five members. The Project Leader is responsible for the field supervision of the team, logistics, and working with the partner throughout the course of the season.
Depending upon the needs of the agency partner, SCA fire teams focus on three broad areas: Fire Monitoring, Fire Education, and Fire Management.
- SCA Fire Monitoring Teams generally travel by truck and by foot, hiking off-trail to locations throughout the project area to collect and record vegetation and landscape data, build fuel data layers for agency GIS maps, present results to host and national agency partners; and conduct public outreach and education.
- SCA Fire Education Teams work to initiate grassroots fire education initiatives by attending community meetings and events, conducting home risk evaluables, planning youth education days, and developing and implement other programs for the community. Additionally, members research and gather existing data for Community Wildfire Protection Plans; work in collaboration with County Rangers, Fire Marshalls, Emergency Response Managers, and Fire Chiefs; organize and hold a community meeting for each district to present findings and educate about the planning tool for future mitigation; and use GPS units to collect way points and create maps and geo-databases.
- SCA Fire Management Teams participate in prescribed fire activities including burn unit preparation, day-of-burn logistics, prescribed burn operations, post-burn evaluations of operational efficiency, fuel treatment, invasive species control, and fire effects monitoring.
Members receive weekly living allowances. Housing and field-based meals are provided, but positions may require camping in the field for a significant portion of the program.
Trainings Offered:
- CPR Certification
- Wilderness First Aid Certification
- Leave No Trace (LNT) Outdoor Ethics
- Leadership and group dynamics
- Chainsaw use (if applicable)
- Red Card equivalent (if applicable)
- FIREMON protocols (if applicable)
- GIS data collection and processing (if applicable)
Eligibility Requirements:
Members must be at least 18 years of age and pass a background check. Other requirements vary by position.
