NFPA 1140 Wildland Firefighter I & BCWS S-100 Training

Combined Wildland Firefighter Training

Beginning in 2027, CFRC’s Wildland Firefighter Training Program includes both:

• NFPA 1140 Wildland Firefighter I, formerly addressed through NFPA 1051
• BCWS S-100 Basic Fire Suppression and Safety, including the content previously delivered through S-185 Fire Entrapment Avoidance and Safety

Students no longer need to register for the NFPA 1140 and BCWS S-100 components separately. Both are included within one integrated Wildland Firefighter course.

The NFPA 1140 component prepares students to function safely as members of a wildland fire suppression crew under direct supervision. It develops the knowledge and practical abilities required to recognize wildland fire conditions, use tools and equipment, construct control lines, support suppression operations, and work within an incident management structure.

The BCWS S-100 component provides the foundational training required for safe wildfire suppression in British Columbia. It combines classroom instruction with field-based practical training and includes fire entrapment avoidance and safety content.

Program topics may include:

• Wildland and wildland-urban interface fire behaviour
• Fuel types and factors affecting fire spread
• Weather, terrain, and topography
• Firefighter safety and situational awareness
• Entrapment avoidance and emergency procedures
• Wildland personal protective equipment
• Hand tools and equipment
• Portable pumps, hose, and water delivery
• Fire-line construction
• Direct, indirect, and parallel attack methods
• Mop-up and patrol operations
• Crew organization and incident command
• Communications and accountability
• Structure and exposure considerations in the wildland-urban interface
• Practical wildfire suppression scenarios

The combined course includes three days of instruction and practical training followed by one separate day of final testing and evaluation.

Students can begin online training (NFPA 1140 only - no online component for S100) at any point in time, but the practical component does have set dates that students must apply before, and select dates they must attend our campus on. 

All in-person training is hosted at our Red Deer campus located at 3420 22 Street, Springbrook.

Students must pick one scheduled class to attend from the list below: 

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2026 Course Schedule

Class 262S100 - BCWS S100 and S185:

Application Deadline: May 9, 2026

S100 Start Date: May 16, 2026

S100 End Date: May 17, 2026

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Class 262WF1 - NFPA 1140 Wildland Firefighter Level I:

Application Deadline: May 24, 2026

NFPA 1140 Start Date: June 24, 2026

NFPA 1140 End Date: June 25, 2026

NFPA 1140 Final IFSAC/Pro Board Evaluations: June 26, 2026

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Class 263WF1 - NFPA 1140 Wildland Firefighter Level I:

Application Deadline: August 23, 2026

NFPA 1140 Start Date: September 23, 2026

NFPA 1140 End Date: September 24, 2026

NFPA 1140 Final IFSAC/Pro Board Evaluations: September 25, 2026

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Class 264WF1 - NFPA 1140 Wildland Firefighter Level I:

Application Deadline: October 26, 2026

NFPA 1140 Start Date: November 26, 2026

NFPA 1140 End Date: November 27, 2026

NFPA 1140 Final IFSAC/Pro Board Evaluations: November 28, 2026

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Students attending a 2026 NFPA 1140 course must successfully complete the required online training before attending the practical component.

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2027 Dual Certification Wildland Firefighter Schedule

Each 2027 course includes three days of NFPA 1140 and BCWS S-100 instruction followed by one separate day of final evaluation and testing.

Class 271WF: NFPA 1140 Wildland Firefighter I & BCWS S-100

Three days of instruction, followed by one day of final evaluation

Application Deadline: February 19, 2027

First Day of Wildland Firefighter Training: April 19, 2027

Last Day of Instruction: April 21, 2027

Final Written Examinations: April 21, 2027

IFSAC/Pro Board Practical Evaluation: April 22, 2027

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Class 272WF: NFPA 1140 Wildland Firefighter I & BCWS S-100

Three days of instruction, followed by one day of final evaluation

Application Deadline: May 12, 2027

First Day of Wildland Firefighter Training: July 12, 2027

Last Day of Instruction: July 14, 2027

Final Written Examinations: July 14, 2027

IFSAC/Pro Board Practical Evaluation: July 15, 2027

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BCWS S-100 Re-certification

If students require re-certification, you may indicate this in your application. 

Dates: The first day of all courses (8 hours) listed above are available for re-certification:

• April 19, 2027
• July 12, 2027

Canadian Fire Rescue College maintains a comprehensive admissions policy that all prospective students are encouraged to review prior to applying. Key eligibility requirements for this program include:

• Legal right to work in Canada
• Physical ability to safely perform wildland firefighting duties
• Physician’s medical clearance
• English-language proficiency in accordance with the CFRC Language Proficiency Policy
• Proof of age in accordance with CFRC admission requirements
• Standard First Aid and CPR Level C, or an accepted equivalent or higher certification
• Ability to complete the required online training before attending the practical component
• Access to a computer and reliable internet connection for online coursework

CFRC does not currently accept international students into the Wildland Firefighter Training Program.

Canadian Fire Rescue College offers payment plan options across all training programs, allowing students to manage tuition costs without paying the full amount upfront. Eligible students may apply for a payment plan as part of the program application process.

Our programs are considered part-time and are not currently eligible for government-funded student loans or grants. Students typically arrange financing through personal savings or private loans from banks or financial institutions.

2026 Pricing:

Wildland Firefighter: NFPA 1140

Application Fee: $150.00

Remaining Tuition: $800.00

TOTAL: $950.00 (Application Fee forms part of overall tuition) 

Wildland Firefighter: BCWS S100 and S185

Application Fee: $150.00

Remaining Tuition: $275.00

TOTAL: $425.00 (Application Fee forms part of overall tuition) 

S100a annual recertification fee: $175.00

2027 Pricing

Combined Wildland Firefighter Program

NFPA 1140 Wildland Firefighter I & BCWS S-100

Application Fee: $150.00

Remaining Tuition: $840.00

TOTAL: $990.00 (Application Fee forms part of overall tuition) 

BCWS S-100 Re-certification

Application Fee: $150.00

Remaining Tuition: $50.00

TOTAL: $200.00 (Application Fee forms part of overall tuition) 

Tuition payments must be made by the applicable deadlines before students attend the practical component.

Tuition payments cannot be made until a student has submitted an application and been accepted into the program.

The delivery method differs between the separately scheduled 2026 courses and the combined 2027 Wildland Firefighter program.

2026 NFPA 1140 Wildland Firefighter I

The 2026 NFPA 1140 Wildland Firefighter I course is delivered in a blended format, meaning that students complete online theory before attending CFRC for practical training and final evaluations.

Online Component

The online component includes:

• Approximately 64 hours of self-paced online learning
• Foundational theoretical knowledge of wildland firefighting
• Theory aligned with NFPA 1140 Wildland Firefighter I, formerly NFPA 1051
• Interactive visual and audio learning aids developed in partnership with Action Training Systems Inc.
• Required textbook-based study
• Preparation for practical instruction, written testing, and final evaluation

Students must successfully complete the CFRC Wildland Firefighter online program before attending the practical component.

Practical Component

The practical component includes:

• In-person demonstration and instruction of wildland firefighting skills
• Field-based tool and equipment training
• Wildland fire behaviour and suppression activities
• Fire-line construction
• Water delivery and portable pump operations
• Written testing
• Formal IFSAC and Pro Board skills evaluation
• Complimentary on-campus accommodation
• 2026 BCWS S-100 & S-185

The 2026 BCWS S-100 and S-185 course is delivered entirely through in-person classroom and field-based instruction.

Training includes:

• Basic fire suppression and safety
• Fire behaviour
• Hand-tool use
• Fire-line construction
• Water delivery
• Fire entrapment avoidance and safety
• Classroom and field-based assessment
• BCWS course completion documentation following successful completion
• Complimentary on-campus accommodation
• 2027 Combined Wildland Firefighter Program

Beginning in 2027, the NFPA 1140 and BCWS S-100 components are delivered as one integrated course.

Online Component

The online component includes:

• Approximately 64 hours of self-paced online learning for the NFPA 1140 component
• Foundational theory in wildland and wildland-urban interface firefighting
• Theory aligned with NFPA 1140 Wildland Firefighter I
• Interactive visual and audio learning aids developed in partnership with Action Training Systems Inc.
• Required textbook-based study
• Preparation for the combined in-person training, written examinations, and practical evaluation

Students must successfully complete the required online training before attending the three-day in-person component.

In-Person Component

The in-person component includes three days of integrated NFPA 1140 and BCWS S-100 instruction and practical training.

Training includes:

• Classroom and field-based instruction
• Wildland fire behaviour and safety
• Entrapment avoidance
• Fire-line construction
• Hand-tool use
• Portable pumps, hose, and water delivery
• Suppression tactics
• Crew organization and communications
• Practical scenarios
• Two written examinations on the third day
• One separate final NFPA 1140 practical evaluation day
• Complimentary on-campus accommodation

Students must meet all admission requirements, including medical clearance and required documentation, before attending practical training.

The combined 2027 Wildland Firefighter Training Program covers two recognized training pathways:

• NFPA 1140 Wildland Firefighter I, formerly NFPA 1051
• BCWS S-100 Basic Fire Suppression and Safety, including the former S-185 Fire Entrapment Avoidance and Safety content

NFPA 1140 Certification

Successful graduates may be eligible to apply for and receive IFSAC and Pro Board certification for:

• NFPA 1140 Wildland Firefighter I

IFSAC and Pro Board certifications are widely recognized by fire departments and emergency services organizations. Individual departments, jurisdictions, and employers may establish their own certification, licensing, experience, medical, fitness, and hiring requirements.

BCWS S-100 Course Completion

Students who successfully complete the BCWS S-100 component may receive the applicable BCWS course completion documentation through an endorsed instructor and training provider.

BCWS establishes the requirements for maintaining S-100 currency, including annual refresher or recurrency training. Students are responsible for ensuring their training remains current for the work or deployment opportunities they pursue.

For further information regarding the Pro Board®, visit www.theproboard.org 

The Wildland Firefighter Training Program provides students with foundational knowledge and practical skills for safe wildfire and wildland-urban interface response.

These qualifications may support:

• Municipal and regional fire department wildfire response
• Volunteer and paid-on-call fire service operations
• Industrial emergency response teams
• Contract wildfire suppression crews
• Seasonal wildfire employment
• Wildland-urban interface operations
• Departmental professional development
• Broader firefighter recruitment qualifications

NFPA 1140 certification may support fire department and emergency services roles requiring recognized wildland firefighter professional qualifications.

BCWS S-100 training is intended for personnel who may perform wildfire suppression work in British Columbia. Individual employers and wildfire agencies may require additional agency-specific training, physical testing, experience, licensing, annual recurrency, or deployment qualifications.

This program provides foundational training and does not replace any additional orientation, training, or qualification required by an employing department, provincial wildfire agency, or contract employer.

This program is exempt from licensing. 

 Canadian Fire Rescue College provides free, on-site student accommodation to support enrolled students during their firefighter and emergency services training. Single-occupancy rooms and shared facilities are available on campus, allowing students to focus on learning, rest, and performance without the added stress of securing housing. 

Click here to learn more about student accommodation at CFRC.

The only fees that students may encounter which are not included with their tuition are:

IFSTA's Ground Cover Firefighting for Structural Firefighters, 1 Edition Textbook (NFPA 1140 Students only): 

• Available for purchase from the AFCA Bookstore in Print format for $127.74 or in an E-Book version for $98.91. 

IFSAC and Pro Board Certification fees (NFPA 1140 Students only): 

• Payable to the Province of Alberta - $60 per certificate (1 certificate in this program)

Food during your stay: 

• CFRC offers an optional weekday meal plan at a cost of $50 per day.
• Students should submit meal orders and communicate allergies, dietary restrictions, and food preferences directly to the CFRC culinary team.
• NOTE* There is no meal-service provided by the college on weekends or holidays.
• Purchase yoiur Meal Subscription here

Travel costs to and from campus: 

• Travel to and from the Edmonton International Airport or the Calgary International Airport, the cost of flights, or if you travel directly to the school via car or bus will all cost you money. The nearest airport to the CFRC campus is the Calgary Airport (YYC), however the Edmonton International Airport (YEG) is only a few kilometers further away. These airports are both approximately a 1 hour drive from the college facility. One-way travel via Red Arrow bus-lines costs from $40 - $64, however a rideshare or taxi from Red Deer to the Campus will need to be purchased as well which will cost from $30-$50 ($70-$114 one-way total). The Red Arrow Pick-up and Drop-off location in Red Deer is 7150 50 Ave, Red Deer, Alberta (in front of the Quality Inn), and the college address is 3410 21 Street, Springbrook, Alberta.  
• If you need to book a flight, click here to see what is available and for pricing.

Computer Access:

• The online component of the program requires use of a computer with high speed internet connection. Most students utilize a laptop, and bring it with them to the practical component for further study. Laptops can range in price from $150 to $3,000. A computer is NOT required for the BCWS S100 course.

Before you apply, it is a good idea to reach out to an admissions specialist. 

You can book a video chat appointment with one, or send them an email. Click here to get started.

Ready to apply? Click on the link here to begin the application package.