BLM launches year-2 of a fire science program at Reno high school
RENO, Nev. — Earlier this week, Bureau of Land Management (BLM) wildland firefighters kicked off the second year of the Fire Science Career and Technical Education (CTE) program at the Academy of Arts, Careers & Technology (AACT) high school in Reno.
The first high-school level program of its kind in the Washoe County School District, CTE combines curriculum-based classroom lessons with hands-on, skills-based training, preparing students with foundational knowledge and practical skills essential to wildland firefighting.
BLM Nevada, Truckee Meadows Fire Protection District (TMFPD), and Living with Fire at University of Nevada - Reno partnered to pilot CTE last year. The first semester, led by TMFPD instructors, centers on structural fires. The second semester is focused to wildland firefighting and led by BLM. Last year, the program piloted with 47, 90-minute classes for sixteen students, grades 10 – 12.
Due to high demand, CTE increases this year to 141 classes and 46 students, almost three times as many as last year, and now including grade 9. It also expands from a three- to four-year program. Students graduating spring 2026 will be eligible for BLM wildland fire crew positions at age 18.
The goal of the CTE program is to introduce and pave the way for meaningful careers in wildfire.
“As the threat of wildfire increases every year, so does the increased demand for trained wildland firefighters,” said Brock Uhlig, State Fire Management Officer, BLM Nevada. "Our goal is to ignite a passion in students for protecting Nevada communities and public lands through wildland fire management.”
Classroom curriculum introduces multiple subjects including wildland fire behavior and incident management. Outside the classroom, students practice initial attack procedures using the same field equipment as wildland firefighters, such as hand tools used to cut fire lines in rugged terrain.
“Empowering the next generation of stewards is not just a duty—it's a shared responsibility to nurture and protect our public land,” said Uhlig.
Students are introduced to a diversity of career paths, regularly interacting with subject matter experts such as engine captains, meteorologists, and fire prevention specialists. They also build relationships and opportunities for mentorship with the BLM firefighters who teach through the entire semester.
"I've truly enjoyed being part of these students' development and watching them grow, both in skill and maturity,” said Jen Diamond, BLM Nevada Training Instructor and lead for the CTE program. “It’s incredibly rewarding to help shape the next generation of wildland firefighters and see their passion for protecting our communities and landscapes take root."
Read an expanded version of this announcement
Cultivating the next generation of wildland firefighters at a Reno high school
The BLM manages more than 245 million acres of public land located primarily in 12 western states, including Alaska, on behalf of the American people. The BLM also administers 700 million acres of sub-surface mineral estate throughout the nation. Our mission is to sustain the health, diversity, and productivity of America’s public lands for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations.