To build strong long-term community resilience against wildfires, it's important to involve students. This helps them understand our wildfire-adapted environment and opens career opportunities for them. Agencies like the Oregon Department of Forestry often look for students interested in careers in forestry or wildfire management, but many students aren’t aware of the career opportunities available in these fields.
Nearly 50 teachers have been trained on using the curriculum in the 2024-25 school year.
Addressing these challenges involves increasing awareness, providing better resources and support in schools and offering clear information about the educational and career pathways in forestry and wildfire management. The Oregon Department of Forestry received a grant to create a basic but thorough curriculum to teach high school students about forestry and wildfire careers. Oregon State University Forestry and Natural Resources Extension helped develop and pilot the curriculum.
The result was a curriculum for high school educators called FireBright: Learn, Work, Lead. Students learn about fire-prone forests, wildfire behavior and the skills needed for careers in natural resources or wildfire management. They are empowered to help reduce fire risks around their homes and work with their communities to prepare for wildfires.
The curriculum is being used in whole or in part at schools across the state. Nearly 50 teachers have been trained on using the curriculum in the 2024-25 school year.
The curriculum consists of five modules:
- Wildfire Risk: Living in the Era of Megafires — Understanding the increasing frequency and intensity of wildfires.
- Fire Ecology: Forests in a Wildfire-Prone Environment — Learning about the ecological role of fire in forest ecosystems.
- Fire Behavior: Exploring Wildfire — Studying how wildfires start, spread and can be controlled.
- Career Pathways: Wildland Firefighting and Natural Resource Careers — Exploring various careers in wildfire management and natural resources.
- Community Protection: Protecting Your Community from Wildfire — Learning strategies to protect homes and communities from wildfires.
The Southern Oregon Forest Restoration Council has provided additional funding to promote the curriculum and offer classroom support for six schools using it in Jackson and Josephine counties for the 2024-25 school year. Crater High School is not only using FireBright, but it is developing the first wildland firefighting career and technical education high school program in Southern Oregon.
The FireBright Curriculum enhances community resilience by educating students about wildfire risks and management. This program helps build a community that is better prepared to handle wildfires leading to reduced damage and quicker recovery.
By introducing students to careers in forestry and wildfire management, it also helps fill important roles in these fields creating more job opportunities for residents and strengthening the workforce.
Additionally, the curriculum increases awareness of the ecological role of fire and the importance of managing fire-prone environments. Students gain practical skills to reduce fire risks around their homes and protect their communities. The support provided to teachers ensures effective implementation fostering a culture of preparedness and resilience that benefits the entire community in the long term.
