California Prescribed Fire Council

Incident Qualification Cards “Red Cards” for California Fire Practitioners

The California Prescribed Fire Council now offers a pathway for fire practitioners across California to obtain Incident Qualification Cards (Red Cards) through membership in the Council and participation in standards-based training and qualification programs.

As California continues to expand the use of prescribed fire and community-based wildfire resilience programs, the need for qualified fire practitioners has never been greater. The California Prescribed Fire Council is helping meet that need by providing access to Incident Qualification Cards (Red Cards) for fire practitioners throughout the state.

This program is available to fire practitioners, prescribed burn association members, land managers, contractors, volunteers, and community leaders who are working toward nationally recognized wildland fire qualifications. By becoming a member of the California Prescribed Fire Council, participants can access qualification support, training opportunities, and record review services designed to help practitioners safely participate in prescribed fire and wildfire operations.

What Is a Red Card?

An Incident Qualification Card, commonly referred to as a “Red Card,” documents that a fire practitioner has met training, experience, and fitness requirements for specific wildland fire positions. Red Cards are widely used throughout the wildland fire community and help verify qualifications during incidents, prescribed burns, and cooperative fire operations.

The California Prescribed Fire Council supports the development of qualified fire practitioners by helping members organize training records, complete required coursework, document experience, and work toward qualification standards aligned with nationally recognized wildfire training systems.

Membership-Based Qualification Support

The program is open to all California fire practitioners through membership in the California Prescribed Fire Council. Members gain access to qualification guidance, training opportunities, task book support, wildfire and prescribed fire experience tracking, and assistance navigating qualification pathways.

The Council’s training and qualification efforts are designed to support both emerging and experienced practitioners working in prescribed fire, fuels reduction, wildfire response, and community-based burning programs. The goal is to expand California’s prescribed fire workforce while maintaining strong safety and training standards.

Building California’s Prescribed Fire Workforce

California’s growing prescribed fire movement depends on trained and qualified practitioners who can safely support burns across diverse landscapes and communities. The California Prescribed Fire Council believes that training and qualification opportunities should be accessible to more people, including volunteers, community members, private landowners, contractors, tribal practitioners, and Prescribed Burn Association participants.

Through partnerships, training programs, and community engagement, the Council is helping create a stronger statewide network of prescribed fire practitioners capable of supporting wildfire resilience and ecological restoration efforts throughout California.

California Prescribed Fire Council

Supporting prescribed fire practitioners, workforce development, community-based burning, and wildfire resilience across California.