Lake Wildfire Resilience Workforce Program
About
Workforce Alliance of the North Bay was awarded in 2024 a community development block grant through the California Department of Housing and Community Development in the amount of $4.7 million dollars. Through this grant, WANB has been able to develop the Lake Wildfire Resilience Training program. This grant is in partnership with Tribal EcoRestoration Alliance to bring expanded trainings to the communities of Lake County.
The Lake Wildfire Resilience Workforce Program is a collaborative initiative dedicated to preparing Lake County residents for careers that protect communities from wildfire risk and support long-term recovery. Wildfires are becoming more frequent and severe, and our region needs a skilled workforce to implement proactive measures that safeguard homes, ecosystems, and lives.
This program offers hands-on training, industry-recognized certifications, and paid work experience in critical areas such as fuels reduction, defensible space, home hardening, prescribed fire support, and post-fire restoration. By combining technical skills with ecological best practices, we help participants build sustainable careers while strengthening community resilience.
Training Courses
Basic 40
The Basic 40 Wildland Firefighter Training Course serves as the foundational training component of the Lake Wildfire Resilience Workforce Program, preparing Lake County residents for careers in wildfire mitigation, forest health, and wildland firefighting. The course provides participants with the essential knowledge, skills, and safety practices required to work effectively in wildfire environments and support community resilience efforts.
Through a combination of classroom instruction and hands-on field training, participants complete the required coursework to earn their National Wildfire Coordinating Group (NWCG) Firefighter Type 2 (FFT2) certification. Training focuses on wildfire behavior, fireline safety, incident command systems, firefighting tools and equipment, communications, and operational procedures used in wildland fire response.
Program Outcomes
Over the last three cohorts, the Basic 40 course has achieved significant success in building a local workforce prepared to address wildfire risks:
- 51 Lake County residents served
- Participants earned NWCG Firefighter Type 2 (FFT2) certification
- Expanded the local talent pipeline for wildfire resilience, fuels reduction, and fire suppression activities
- Increased access to career pathways in forestry, conservation, emergency response, and natural resource management
Fire and Forestry Career Training
The Fire and Forestry Career Training Program is a four-week intensive workforce development program designed to prepare Lake County residents for entry-level careers in land stewardship, wildfire resilience, forestry, and natural resource management. Through hands-on training and classroom instruction, participants build practical skills while gaining a deeper understanding of the ecological and cultural importance of caring for the land.
Training topics include land restoration, fuels reduction, chainsaw skills, cultural fire practices, plant identification, workplace safety, leadership development, teamwork, and environmental regulations such as NEPA and CEQA. Participants also have the unique opportunity to learn directly from Native land stewards and explore the traditional ecological knowledge and land management practices that have sustained local landscapes for generations.
Following the four-week training, participants may be eligible for paid On-the-Job Training (OJT) opportunities with a field crew, allowing them to continue building skills and experience in real-world conservation and wildfire resilience projects. This program serves as a valuable launching point for careers in forestry, fire prevention, restoration, conservation, and land management.
Program Outcomes
The Fire and Forestry Career Training Program is helping build a skilled local workforce equipped to support wildfire resilience and healthy landscapes throughout Lake County.
- 25 participants successfully completed the training program
- Participants gained hands-on experience in land stewardship, forestry, and wildfire mitigation practices
- Training included technical, environmental, and professional skills needed for entry-level employment
- Participants learned from experienced practitioners, including Native land stewards and resource management professionals
- The program strengthened local capacity to support forest health, fuels reduction, and community resilience efforts.