Apply on-line now for Colorado Firecamp's upcoming S-112 Introduction to Chainsaw Operations (formerly S-212 Wildland Fire Chain Saws) classes:

• March 19-22, 2026
  
• April 9-12, 2026
  
• April 23-26, 2026
  
• May 14-17, 2026
  
• June 4-7, 2026
  
• June 25-28, 2026
  
• July 16-19, 2026
  
• August 13-16, 2026
  
• September 10-13, 2026
  
• October 1-4, 2026
  
• October 22-25, 2026
  
• November 5-8, 2026

Cost: $800 includes tuition, books, meals & lodging.

What to Bring to Class

Job Hazard Analysis (JHA)

MTDC Chain Saw Training

Felling Boss Training

Little Grass Valley Tree Felling Accident FLA — August, 2009

Freeman Reservoir tree felling fatality, 72-hour report & OSHA citation — June, 2009

Storm Mountain Ranch tree felling accident, OSHA citation — May, 2009

Andrew Palmer Fatality, Dutch Creek Incident, — June, 2008

• Appendix C, Chain Saw Technical Report
• Assessment of Accident Site
• Findings
• Policy
• Glossary
• Human Factors

OSHA citations

Volusia County Tree Felling Fatality —
Scene Pictures — November, 2007

Big Creek Fire Accident — August, 2006

NWCG Hazard Tree and Tree Felling Task Group — link to hazard tree safety information

USFS Region 2 letter to Sen. Udall, re: S-212 cutting area — June, 2009

CSFS Faller Qualification Guidelines — May, 2006

USFS Region 2 Chainsaw Policy — February, 2005

S-235 Felling Boss Training, Issue Paper #12 — January, 1996

Wildland Fire Chain Saw Glossary — S-212 Pre-course work

• ANSI — Butt
• Calks — Crossing the Lead
• Danger Tree — FSM
• Grounding — Humboldt Undercut
• Indirect Attack — Open-face Cut
• Peavey — Root Wad
• Safety — Swamp Out
• Tension — Windfall

S-112, Introduction to Chainsaw Operations
(formerly S-212, Wildland Fire Chainsaws)

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S-112 Introduction to Chainsaw Operations (Blended-Online Component) 2025 v2

This is the first part of a 2-part course that combines an online training (OLT) component and an instructor-led training (ILT) component.

This BLENDED course is designed to provide students with the knowledge and skills to perform the duties of the Basic Faller (FAL3) position, as described in the NWCG Standards for Wildland Fire Chainsaw Operations, PMS-212. Additional information about this course can be found in the NWCG Course Catalog.

Objectives
Upon completion of this course, you will be able to:

• Perform a procedural sizeup and determine assignment complexity.
• Recognize how to maintain work area and cutting area control.
• Describe how to maintain communication and coordination with saw teams.
• Recognize the impact of human factors on chainsaw operations.
• Identify the parts of a chainsaw.
• Demonstrate safe chainsaw operation practices, including wearing personal protective equipment and performing safety checks.
• Demonstrate how to safely handle a chainsaw, including starting and stopping procedures, body positioning, and managing reactive forces.
• Perform basic chainsaw maintenance.

Part 1 - Online training (OLT) component: The focus of the online training is to teach knowledge and concepts. The course lessons provide introduction to the function, maintenance and use of internal combustion engine powered chainsaws, and their tactical wildland fire application. Students are required to complete the OLT prior to taking the ILT. The OLT should take approximately 4 hours to complete.

Part 2 - Instructor-led (ILT) component: The ILT will reinforce the content learned online and provide opportunities to apply this knowledge to real-world scenarios and practical exercises. Field exercises support entry level training for firefighters with little or no previous experience in operating a chainsaw, providing hands-on cutting experience in surroundings similar to fireline situations. 

Providing Feedback: The feedback that you provide is a valuable tool for making the course better for other wildland fire personnel.

Memo of Completion and Certificate: Once you have completed all the required activities in the online training, your memo of completion will be automatically sent to the email associated with your WFLP user profile. The Memo is proof of your successful completion of the online component and must be provided to the instructor prior to the instructor-led component of the course.

Upon successful completion of the Instructor-led component, the lead instructor will issue a course certificate of completion.

 

Log-in or Create account on  Wildland Fire Learning Portal (WFLP)

Wildland Fire Learning Portal QR Code

The name you register with is the name that will be on your certificates from Colorado Firecamp. Please be sure it is entered as you want it and there are no typos. We strongly encourage you to use the same name on all of your wildland fire certificates to avoid any issues or confusion down the road.
If you do not belong to an NWCG agency or are employed by a private contractor (VIPR, military, etc):

• for Geographic Area, select Rocky Mountain

• for Agency, select HigherEd

• for Unit, enter Colorado Firecamp.

If you have any questions, please contact Firecamp, as it may take a few days to sort out any problems.
*If you already have an account:
Please note, if you have already created an account but do not remember your username or password, DO NOT CREATE A NEW ACCOUNT! Creating a second account for an existing user may result in both accounts being deleted and the loss of training records.
If you cannot gain access using the “Forgotten your username or password?” link, scroll to the bottom of the page, log in as a guest, and use the “Help” tab to submit a request.