After an unprecedented 2011 Texas wildfire season, firefighters looking to prepare for the next big blaze are invited to attend the 10th annual Central Texas Wildfire Academy on Feb. 17-20.

Sponsored by Texas Forest Service and Dam Volunteer Fire Department, the academy features wildland firefighting training for both paid and volunteer departments, as well as courses focusing on safety and fire operations in the wildland urban interface. A prescribed burn field exercise – allowing students to actually work on a fire – will be held if weather permits.

“The more training firefighters have, the safer they perform their tasks,” said Texas Forest Service Resource Specialist Mary Leathers, an instructor at the academy. “Our role at Texas Forest Service is to train the initial attack responders to perform firefighting tasks in as safe a manner as possible so everybody goes home at the end of the day.”

The cost to attend is $60 per day, payable through a voucher system with the Rural Volunteer Fire Department Assistance Program, a grant program funded by the state and administered by Texas Forest Service. Breakfast and lunch are served for a combined $15 per day. Free lodging in barracks is available on site at Camp Bowie in Brownwood.

For more information or to register, go to the Texas Interagency Coordinating Center training page or contact the academy registrar at AcademyRegistrar@tfs.tamu.edu or 979-458-7330.