Prarie Tactics - If Not You, Then Who

Charlie Kludt is secretary and training officer for the Viborg Volunteer FD, Viborg, SD. and captain and inspector at Joe Foss Field, Sioux Falls, SD. He is an on-call EMT for the Viborg Ambulance service.
He has over 30 years in fire suppression, rescue, prevention, and inspection activities. He is President of the South Dakota Firefighters Association. He has certifications as Rescue Technician, driver-operator, inspector, instructor, and NWCG wildland.
In 2015, he was appointed NVFC State Director for South Dakota. Currently serving as Wildland committee member.
He and his wife, Dawn, are members of the South Dakota-Local Assistance State Team (SD-LAST).
Prior to a firefighting career, he was a Jr/Sr High School vocational instructor, coach, and Administrator. He served as mayor for 14 years; Planning and Zoning Chairman; School Board member; and church committee member (which has a “forever” term limit).

He brings a mix of seriousness and lightheartedness to his training. He likes to capitalize on the knowledge and experiences of attendees in the room. "I'm not the smartest guy in the room. I instigate and facilitate the intellect others have."
The belief, fire is the same, but fires are never the same.
A majority of the fires we face are farm and rangeland related wildfires. People don’t think of
agricultural related fires as wildland. Wildland fires are as different as the fuels and terrain across the country. Farm and range fires are an entirely different tactic than mountains and forests. Which means, how we fight them is different, as well.
In this course, you will gain insight as to the similarities and differences between fighting wildfires in the mountains and forests versus farm and rangeland. With the intent to pass along ideas from everyone in the room.

Prarie Tactics - If Not You, Then Who

Students will learn several tactics and methods used to extinguish fires in the Central Plains. Water holes and drafting safely. They will understand the weather and how it plays a factor in moving fires. How humidity can create a disaster when RH values are extremely low. They will learn that when volunteer departments are shorthanded they will have to lead the battle until higher command staff arrives on the scene. There may be times when the command doesn't even arrive and crews are on their own. This also covers how to care for yourself to last longer out on the fire ground as help may be as 1-3 hours away. Finally, sharing fire mitigation and how it works to make fire suppression easier

Class is
Thursday June 20
Friday June 21
Saturday June 22

This class is a classroom only.
Class Fee is $ 50.00 per student for non CSFFA Members
Class Fee is $ 25.00 per student for CSFFA Members
Go to csffa.org for more information and registration