Fundraiser Expands Hands-On Fire Training, Safety Resources for Students

College of Natural Resources students are conducting prescribed burns more safely and confidently thanks to new safety gear, equipment and training opportunities, all made possible by the generous support of donors who contributed over $5,000 to a fundraising effort led by the FirePack student burn crew.

“We’ve been trying to build the fire program within the Department of Forestry and Environmental Resources, but we need to grow in a way that keeps our students safe,” said Jennifer Fawcett, an Extension specialist in wildland fire at North Carolina State University, who assisted with fundraising efforts.

Fawcett, who also serves as coordinator of the Southeast Regional Partnership for Planning and Sustainability Wildland Fire Working Group, helps coordinate prescribed fire training opportunities for the department’s students.

According to Fawcett, the idea to raise funds for student safety gear came from her former colleague Elliot Nauert, who previously worked as an Extension associate and is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in the Department of Psychology at NC State.

Nauert, Fawcett and others on their team sought guidance from College of Natural Resources development team members Jennifer Piercy and Olivia Grissom, who helped turn Nauert’s idea into a concrete fundraising strategy.

New Gear Allows Next-Level Training

Students enrolled in the department’s wildland fire courses receive classroom instruction and real-world experience in fire behavior, essential safety practices and the ecological benefits of prescribed fire. Upon completing their training, students can earn certification as a Firefighter Type 2 as recognized by the National Wildfire Coordinating Group.

Fawcett explained that while online and classroom instruction offer important foundational knowledge, they don’t fully replicate the challenges of utilizing prescribed fire. That’s where practical, hands-on learning comes in. “It not only better prepares students for actual fire management but also strengthens their resumes.”

Many students who earn their Firefighter Type 2 certification gain additional hands-on experience by volunteering with FirePack, which is coordinated by Fawcett and other Extension staff. FirePack primarily conducts prescribed burns in G.W. Hill Forest and James Goodwin Forest, each about an hour from the university’s main campus in Raleigh.

“We want to be able to lend out safety clothing and equipment. So the gifts fulfill a real need.”

But providing immersive learning comes with challenges. Participating requires personal protective equipment (PPE), including fire-resistant clothing, helmets, boots and more. If the department can’t provide gear, then students have to bring their own. This puts valuable training opportunities out of reach for some.

“Students voluntarily come out with us as an extracurricular activity, and fire equipment and PPE are really expensive. Some of the shirts and pants are $250,” Fawcett said. “We want to be able to lend out safety clothing and equipment. So the gifts fulfill a real need.” 

Because they had enough safety gear for this year’s annual Fire Week during summer camp, students who had completed their classroom training participated in four days of prescribed fire operations on 939 acres in the sandhills of North Carolina. Students worked alongside experienced fire professionals to apply their theoretical knowledge to real-world scenarios.

This story was written by Cindy Dashnaw Jackson for the College of Natural Resources.