Reno High School’s Wildfire Science Program: Exploring Year Two of Innovative Learning

RENO, Nev. – The Bureau of Land Management has kicked off the second year of its Fire Science Career and Technical Education program at the Academy of Arts, Careers & Technology high school in Reno.

This program blends classroom learning with hands-on training. It’s designed to equip students with the knowledge and skills needed for wildland firefighting. Last year, 16 students from grades 10 to 12 participated in 47 classes that lasted 90 minutes each.

This year, the program expanded significantly. With high demand, they now offer 141 classes and have included grade 9 in the program. This year, 46 students are enrolled. Those who graduate in spring 2026 can apply for BLM wildland fire crew positions at age 18.

In the classroom, students learn about wildland fire behavior and incident management. Outside, they get practical experience by using real firefighting tools, like hand tools for cutting fire lines in tough terrain.

Brock Uhlig, the BLM Nevada state fire management officer, emphasizes the growing need for trained firefighters as wildfires become more frequent. He hopes the program will inspire students to protect Nevada’s communities and public lands through effective fire management.

For more details, you can check out the fire education program.