Minnesota Wildfire Academy

The Minnesota Incident Command System (MNICS) hosts the annual Minnesota Wildfire Academy in Grand Rapids, Minnesota the first week in June. The week-long event draws wildland firefighters from greater Minnesota and beyond, from local fire departments to tribal, state and federal wildland fire management agencies.

Academy coordinators prepare year-round for the academy, assessing fire training needs and selecting classes designed to provide the best opportunity to train in wildland fire operations, planning, safety, and leadership development. Courses are designed to engage students in simulations and work the tools, equipment, and procedures standard to wildland firefighting. Academy courses focus on:

  • Basic firefighting and initial attack response
  • Leading 20-person hand crews and engines units assign to fireline work
  • Basic wildfire air operations and helicopter crew support
  • Wildfire behavior and field observations
  • Applying the Incident Command System to expanding wildfire and all-hazard incident response

Minnesota’s success in wildland firefighting is rooted in collaboration at every fire response level. The Minnesota Wildfire Academy is an excellent example of fulfilling a vital public safety goal collaboratively. Its success in providing exceptional learning experiences in realistic settings results from partnerships with the Minnesota North College, MNICS interagency instructors and event coordinators, and the greater Grand Rapids community.

Green and yellow trucks in a gravel pit with people standing in the background.
Two yellow truck set end to end in an open field with a white sign attached to each truck.
Two people look a wooden board with information signs and maps.
People walking on a sidewalk.
Student sitting in stadium seat some wearing masks.
Two people in yellow shirts and yellow hardhats roll up a white firehose that's lying on green grass.
Yellow fire truck released water into a read portable tank.
People in aprons serving spaghetti from roasting pans.
Eight people work to set up a weather station in a shaded area outside.
Two people sitting on the ground work on rolling up a green tarp.