Columbine Wildland Fire Module

Crew Information

Col Fire Module 1 The Columbine Wildland Fire Module (WFM) is a ten-person, Type-1 crew based out of the Columbine Ranger District of the San Juan National Forest. Columbine WFM is a resource that responds to fires locally, regionally, and nationally, and provides self-sufficient, highly skilled fire professionals to assist with wildland and prescribed fire operations, fire behavior and fire effects monitoring, hazard fuels reduction, and a range of other fire and resource related missions. Columbine has existed as an “initial attack” module since the early 2000s. With support from Forest Leadership working to expand the San Juan National Forest’s managed and prescribed fire programs, Columbine was reborn as a Wildland Fire Module in 2013.

The module consists of 8 permanent employees (1 GS-8 26/0 Captain, 1 GS-7 18/8 Assistant Captain, 2 GS-5/6 13/13 Squad Leaders, and 4 GS-4/5 13/13 Senior Firefighters) and 2 GS-4 and GS-5 temporary seasonal employees. Columbine WFM’s season runs from early April through mid-October. The module typically assists local interagency partners with initial attack and prescribed fire in the early summer and fall, and fulfills its commitment to 90+ days of national availability during the summer months.

Wildland Fire Module Purpose

Col Fire Module 2 Wildland Fire Modules are highly skilled and versatile fire crews, purposed with providing an innovative, safe, highly mobile, logistically independent, and adaptable resource committed to achieving diverse fire and fuels management objectives. WFMs have a unique skill set, providing technical and ecological based expertise in the areas of wildfire response and prescribed fire such as: long-term planning, ignitions, holding, suppression, hazard fuels reduction, and fire effects monitoring. These skills emphasize managing fire in order to fulfill its natural or historic role and to meet resource and management objectives.

As a Type 1 module, Columbine WFM has the qualifications, experience, and leadership to break into two independent squads. Each squad has appropriate leadership (CRWB or higher) and the ability to maintain module operations along with additional fireline supervision duties at the Taskforce Leader (TFLD) level, to assume command of incidents at the Type 4 or 5 complexity level, and to independently plan and implement prescribed fire at the RXB2 level.

Location

Columbine WFM is based out of the historic Vallecito Work Center in Vallecito, Colorado. Vallecito is located 30 miles from Durango, CO and 18 miles from the Columbine Ranger Station in Bayfield, CO. Office facilities, a warehouse/engine bay, and limited Government Housing are available at the work station.

Training

Columbine WFM’s season typically begins in early April with two weeks of classroom and field training. This training includes mandatory fire training and refreshers, module specific training, and additional local training for employee development and to meet agency needs.

As a module member, there are typically many opportunities for valuable training experience due to the diversity of assignments the module receives. Columbine WFM regularly provides FEMO and FOBS training opportunities as well as but not limited to: FFT1, ICT5/4, FAL1/2/3, FIRB/CRWB/ENGB, HECM/HMGB, and various Command and General Staff positions.

Physical Fitness

Columbine WFM maintains a high level of fitness, critical to module morale, personal health, and safety standards. Module members participate in a minimum of 1 hour of Physical Training a day when not out on assignment, and are encouraged to meet the following standard at the beginning of fire season:

1.5 mile run in a time of 11:00 or less

45 sit-ups in 60 seconds

25 pushups in 60 seconds

7 pull-ups in 60 seconds

Detailer Information/Current Vacancies