The application form for 2024 Butte Cal-TREX is now open!

Dates: 

Weekend 1: October 12-13th

Weekend 2: October 19-20th

Optional Pack Test and Fireline Refresher on October 11th

Locations: Chico, Cohasset, and Butte Valley, CA

Apply HERE. Applications close September 8th

What is TREX?

TREX stands for Training Exchange. It is an annual event that we hold here in Butte County to train local fire practitioners on different aspects of prescribed fire. This could include pump operation, hand tool usage, language we use on the fireline, smoke management, burn plan writing, permitting, approaches to thinning, post fire restoration, and more. There are many other TREX that occur throughout the US, but in ours we cover specific topics related to implementing prescribed fire in Butte County, CA.

This year our TREX is formatted a bit differently than previous years. This is an application to participate, not a registration for the event. We will be able to support up to 60 participants. Applications will be considered from anyone that applies, but preference will go to Butte County residents first and foremost. 

We are building an on-call prescribed fire crew as part of the Butte County Cal-TREX to return cultural burning and prescribed fire to the land. We will kick off in October with a series of trainings to build our community capacity as fire practitioners. We are offering training to folks interested in participating on the crew and showing up to burns. We anticipate about 15 - 20 days of live fire from October - March (weather-permitting), and we will schedule burns from a few days to a few weeks in advance of a burn.   

1) Pre-fire training on October 12- 13 and October 19-20.  These weekend training sessions will focus on building a local prescribed fire crew, incorporate hands-on field scenarios, fireline leadership skills, local fire ecology, an introduction to cultural fire, culminating in a large prescribed burn. 

2) Additional training. RT-130 Wildland Fire Annual Refresher and an Arduous Work Capacity Test (October 11th) and other fire-related trainings will be held over the next 5 months.

2) On-call prescribed fire crew.  Participants will be on-call for prescribed fire training opportunities through March 2025.  Timing of individual burns will depend on weather windows.  Participants will assist with preparing, scouting, briefing, igniting, holding, fire effects monitoring, mop-up, and patrol on prescribed burns. The work will take place in diverse ecosystems, including on both private and public lands 

We are seeking local participation, and the event will focus on local capacity building.  The event is open to individuals interested in learning and sharing their knowledge of prescribed fire.  Meals will not be provided. Camping will be made available. All participants are expected to be self-sufficient for a 72 hour period. 

There will be a $25 fee for participants who are selected. If you do not think you can afford the $25, please apply regardless and we will figure out ways to offset costs through scholarships or otherwise. Please have the application completed and submitted by 5pm, September 8th

• If an opportunity to burn on state or federal land arises, only folks with Wildland Firefighter Type II (FFT2) qualifications, or equivalent, will be able to attend. FFT2 equivalence = NWCG courses S-130, S-190, L-180; FEMA courses IS-100 and IS-700; and current Pack Test and RT-130. Need clarification? Email goodfire@bcrcd.org

• If private lands burning opportunities arise, any TREX participant will be able to attend, unless the landowner asks practitioners to have minimum certs mentioned above.

Please spread the word to anyone you think would be interested!

Please email goodfire@bcrcd.org with any questions!