The Boise National Forest Firefighting Academy provides a training and mentoring platform that is open to everyone including our military veterans and all diverse candidates looking to pursue a career in wildland fire management. The composition of the program includes a Type 2 IA Handcrew (Crew 8) and a Type 4 Engine (E-481).

 Recruits are trained as on-call-emergency wildland firefighters, for firefighter training and gaining wildland firefighting field experience on both Crew 8 and Engine 481. The training program includes basic wildland fire school, chainsaw use, pumps and water handling, along with other suppression and leadership courses instructed throughout fire season. The combined training and work experience prepare recruits to be competitive for seasonal firefighting positions or candidates for the Wildland Firefighter Apprenticeship Program. This is a six-month program held from May to October each year. In addition to wildland firefighting, the modules are utilized to help with fuels and vegetation work to accomplish land and resource management objectives.   

 Resume writing and job interview skills, along with job application workshops will be taught to assist recruits through the hiring process. The goal is to make everyone competitive for wildland firefighting jobs across the Intermountain Region and the Western United States.