S-100 Basic fire suppression and fireline safety
- Upon successful completion of the course, the candidate will demonstrate a basic knowledge of wildland fire suppression organization structure, wildfire behavior, plus suppression and safety procedures. Practical skills with equipment used in BC to effectively and safely respond to wildfires are a mandatory component for initial ticket holders. Successful candidates will receive the S-100 Fire Suppression certificate.
- The S-100 is approximately a two day course the first time your take it. This course must be refreshed annually. The refresher S-100 can easily be done by attending a 4 hour classroom session or even easier if you take it online.
S-100 annual refresher
- online at www.s100a.com
S-185 Fire Entrapment Avoidance
- Upon completion of the S-185 course, the participant will be able to size up and evaluate potential fire entrapment situations and how to act accordingly to remove himself or herself safely from a potentially risky situation, deploy the necessary resources using safe and efficient strategies and tactics to prevent loss of life.
- The S185 is a onetime course that takes approximately 5 hours of instruction.
Dates options : Full S100 & Full S185 See CALENDAR
- April 9th & 10th 2021
- April 14th & 15th 2021
- May 6th & 7th 2021
Time and Place
- Time : 8am to 5 pm … registration at 7:45 am
- Location: 3129 Heddle Rd Nelson BC. Map
- Parking: Apex Shop just down road from 3129
- Entrance: Bottom floor at the back of 3129
Cost
- Cost $250 which includes a $50.00 registration deposit. In order to register online you will require a registration code which is acquired by phone contact.
- Please ask us about our incentive program.
Instructor
- Instructor Doug Harrison
- Register CONTACT US
Course Cancellation
- A minimum number of registrations is necessary up to 4 days before course date. If sufficient registration is not met by this date, the course may be cancelled.
Withdrawing from a Course
- If you need to withdraw from a course, please notify Apex by telephone, email, fax or letter. Voice mail is not considered an adequate method of notification.
Withdrawal Policy
- Registration fee is non-refundable 48 hours after registration.
- Exceptions to the above policy are made on compassionate grounds. In such cases, a written request for refund (letter or email), must be submitted a minimum of 24 hrs prior to the course. Refunds issued in exceptional circumstances may be full or partial refunds either in the method of original payment.
Getting a Refund
- If Apex cancels a course due to low enrollment or other unforeseen circumstances, all registrants will automatically be issued a refund in the manner of original payment or by cheque in the case of cash purchases.
Confirming your Registration
- Shortly after you register, you will receive a Confirmation of Registration via email from Apex to let you know that we received and have processed your registration.
Confirming your Course
- Apex Forest & Wildfire Services Ltd courses require a minimum enrollment to proceed. When minimum enrollment has been met, or approximately four (4) days prior to the course start date, you will receive a Course Confirmation from Apex via email. This message will include course details including times, location, what to bring etc. Please ensure you have provided Apex with an active email address when you register, or a daytime phone number where we can reach you.
Orientation and fitness test:
Job Orientation: We require potential employees to attend a job orientation. This is a great day for us to meet, for you to ask questions and for us go over every aspect of the job & our company. We discuss how we pay, explain standby, fire wages, travel, equipment, marshaling points, safety policies etc.
Fitness test : Firefighting is a physical job which requires a certain level of fitness. Our contract with the BC Wildfire Service requires that our employees must pass the moderate capacity fitness test. You must walk 3.2 km with a 25 pound back pack in 30 minutes or less.
Dates:
- May 26th 2016 new employees
- June 7th 2016 new employees
- June 13th 2016 returning employees
- June 12th 2016 crew boss
- June 19th 2106 new employees
- June 21st 2016 new employees
- June 26th 2016 new employees
Registration CONTACT US
- Time 9:00 am – 5:00 pm
- Place 3129 Heddle Rd Nelson
- Entrance back bottom entrance of 3129
- Park at Apex Shop just down the road from 3129
Bring
- Well fitting back pack with 25 pounds ( garbage bags with sand or dirt for weight). You want the weight in your pack to feel evenly distributed and fairly comfortable.
- Clothes & Runners for the fitness test suitable for the weather condition.
- Students please know your cost of tuition and books for tax forms
- Social insurance number
- We will be providing some snacks!! Please bring your main lunch
COURSES
FIRST AID
ABOUT FIRST AID TRAINING
First aid certification is not a prerequisite however for a 5 person crew one must have a valid first aid certification. You become more valuable with the accepted first aid training. See details below.
ACCEPTED FIRST AID
- OFA Level 1 & Transportation endorsement (both are required ) or Work Safe equivalent
- OFA Level 3 or Work Safe equivalent
No other certifications will qualify under the Wildfire Management Branch contract. Please see links below for Work Safe equivalencies.
- Work Safe BC equivalent for Ofa level 1
- http://www2.worksafebc.com/Topics/FirstAid/Certificates-BC.asp?ReportID=33595&_Type=Certificates-Accepted-in-B.C.&_Title=OFA-Level-1-and-Equivalencies
- Work Safe BC equivalencies for Transportation Endorsement http://www2.worksafebc.com/Topics/FirstAid/Certificates-BC.asp?ReportID=33598
- Work Save Ofa level 3 equivalencies
- http://www2.worksafebc.com/Topics/FirstAid/Certificates-BC.asp?ReportID=33597&_Type=Certificates-Accepted-in-B.C.&_Title=OFA-Level-3-and-Equivalencies
LOCAL APPLICANTS: FIRST AID WITH SELKIRK COLLEGE.
Reminder Ofa 1 also needs to include Ofa TE.
- Occupational First Aid Level 1 ( Ofa 1)
- http://selkirk.ca/ce/courses/first-aid-safety-training/worksafe-bc-courses/occupational-first-aid-ofa-level-i-16
- Transportation Endorsement ( Ofa TE)
- http://selkirk.ca/ce/courses/first-aid-safety-training/worksafe-bc-courses/occupational-first-aid-ofa-transportation-endorsement
- Occupational First Aid Level 3 ( OFA 3)
- http://selkirk.ca/ce/courses/first-aid-safety-training/worksafe-bc-courses/occupational-first-aid-ofa-level-iii
Other links for first aid in different locations
- http://www.douglas.bc.ca/home.html
- http://camosun.ca/
- http://www.langara.bc.ca/
COURSES
Crew Boss
Crew boss training consists of 4 separate courses; Instructor Doug Harrison
- S-230 Crew Boss
- S-235 Burning Off and Backfiring
- S-212 Fire Communications
- Incident Command Systems (ICS) 100
Once participants have successfully passed all 4 courses they require extensive fire line experience to become an Apex Crew boss. Apex assigns crew boss trainees to an experienced Crew boss to work in a mentor ship program until fully qualified.
COURSES
Danger Tree Assessor Module 2: Wildland Fire Safety
One firefighter in a 5 person crew must have a valid Module 2 Wildland Fire Safety Danger Tree Assessor’s (DTA) certification. Therefore anyone with a valid DTA card will be high in demand and greatly increases their chance of employment. This certification would be well worth the money and it is also valid for 4 years.
The DTA Module 2 course is only taught by UNBC Instructors. Sometimes they have a few preset scheduled courses around the Province. If you have missed their scheduled dates and are still interested in taking the course please contact us. When we have enough Apex interested people we will organize our own UNBC instructed course.
For more information on DTA courses around the Province please see UNBC link http://www.unbc.ca/continuing-studies/wildlife-danger-tree
Danger Tree Assessor’s course information
The Course is 2 days in length, involving a mix of classroom and field exercises, and qualifying exams.
During the workshops you will learn to:
- Understand the use of wildlife trees and their role in forested ecosystems
- Identify high-value wildlife tree characteristics
- Describe site assessment factors
- Inspect and identify dangerous tree defects
- Determine levels of disturbance for various work activities
- Make appropriate safety decisions
- Perform detailed tree assessments and related measurements
- Inspect rooting systems
- Collect data on FS 502A field forms
In order to pass, a grade of 85% is required on the field component of the exam. There is no minimum requirement for the written exam, however, a combined grade of 75% is required to pass any of the Wildlife Danger Tree Assessor courses.
DTA Prerequisites
The following pre-qualification standards are required of anyone taking the Wildlife/Danger Tree Assessor’s Course for the first time:
- Experience working in the fields of forestry operations, habitat biology, parks management, arboriculture, transportation safety management, occupational health and safety, or wildland fire
- Grade 10 equivalency skills (reading, writing, basic arithmetic)
- ability to calculate percentages
- knowledge of native tree species identification
COURSES
SAFE CHAINSAW HANDLING & MAINTENANCE COURSE
This 2 day Chainsaw Course is instructed By Doug Harrison
During the workshop you will learn ;
- The work environment / surroundings
- Personal Protective Equipment
- Parts & Maintenance of the chainsaw
- Safe work procedures & safe cutting techniques
- Legislation, Regulations, & Standards
Day 1: classroom session: Review of relevant OH&S Regulations; and hands-on work covering essential saw maintenance, correct chain filing procedures and safe cutting techniques.
Day 2: Field work: including review, identification of bucking hazards, discussion of binds and practice with cuts;
There will be a written exam as well as a final field examination .
COURSES
RESOURCE ROAD LIGHT TRUCK DRIVERS TRAINING
Prerequisites: Must have a valid drivers license.
The course covers the safe operation of light trucks and SUVs, on public roads and more specifically on forestry roads. The main goal in this course is to help the driver be fully responsible by stressing the importance of staying focused , using proper operating skills, knowing your driving duties, and understanding resource road conditions as a driver.
During the workshop you will learn ;
- Characteristics of forestry roads,
- Vehicle dynamics, understanding of design elements and how they affect stability.
- driver skill development.
Students will be evaluated & tested on driving skills as well as a written exam.
The WorkSafeBC Occupational Health and Safety Regulations require employees receive training and demonstrate competency in operating mobile equipment. A Certificate of Completion will be issued upon successful completion of the training.
COURSES
SAFE ATV OPERATION
The Course is 1 day in length, involving classroom time, field exercises, and a qualifying evaluation of skills.
ATV Operator training is required under the WorkSafeBC OH&S regulations. This course is designed to teach you to safely , how to properly ride , carrying loads, and operating in remote locations.
This certificate is valid for three years, pending a valid drivers license.
During the workshops you will learn:
- list protective clothing and gear for operating an ATV
- understand WorkSafeBC OH&S regulations pertaining to ATV operation
- risk management & due diligence
- load and unload the ATV
- load and secure loads on the ATV to balance weight.
- do pre-trip and post-trip inspections
- operate demonstrate safe ATVs riding skills
- basic mechanical checks
- identify hazards while driving .
- tow a trailer if that is part of workplace requirements