The 23rd annual Capital Area Interagency Wildfire and Incident Management Academy (CAIWA) began this week at the Camp Swift National Guard Facility in Bastrop, Texas. The academy will take place October 8-20, 2021.Each year, firefighters travel from across the state and nation to attend the academy to continue their education and earn National Wildfire Coordinating Group (NWCG) training qualifications. The mission of Texas Interagency Wildfire and Incident Management Academies, including CAIWA, is to enhance wildland firefighters’ knowledge, utilizing NWCG standards, while promoting safe and cost-effective operations. Three prescribed fires are expected to take place during this year’s academy, two during S-130/190: Firefighter Training and Introduction to Wildland Fire Behavior and one during the S-219: Firing Operations courses.While these prescribed fires play an instrumental role in the continuing education of student wildland firefighters, they are also equally important to…
