Campbell Prediction System Training
The Fire Behavior Tactics Course
by Doug Campbell
The course begins with a firefighter's mission and vision. This is
the driving force behind the firefighters actions. If the mission and
vision are to fight fire accompanied by an attitude, then the tougher it is
the better, but this sets up certain predictable responses which are
not always
safe and effective. However, if the mission and vision are to
win each
engagement, then the risk is lowered and CPS training takes hold.
The next part of the course centers on basic fire science and exposes misconceptions about how air affects forest fuel. This segment proves that fuel temperature variables are the key to certain predictions. Special language is taught enabling students to communicate wildfire potential. The language makes it possible to extract personnel from dangerous situations.
The rest of the course is the application of this system on fires of the past. To avoid repeating the errors of the past we must be able to predict the fire behavior event and use different tactics. When we can teach how to better predict past fire behavior, then events on future fires can be predicted and a safe tactical approach can be devised. This is called fire behavior tactics.
There are numerous fire personnel who have utilized CPS on wildland fires and are qualified to teach the subject. Doug Campbell has retired from teaching. He is however open to teach instructors and furnishing the course material on a one-on-one basis to those individuals interested in instructing the CPS course.
Instructors
Colorado Firecamp
The Colorado Firecamp includes CPS training in their S-131/133/211 Firefighter Type 1 classes.
Will Spyrison
805-279-6147
firefighterdv1@aol.com
Will Spyrison is a CPS
instructor within the US Forest Service and is available to instruct
outside the US Forest Service. Will is a Division Chief with the US Forest Service, Los Angeles River Ranger District, Angeles
National Forest. He
began his firefighting career in 1977 with the Fulton Hotshots in
the Sequoia National Forest and served with the Ojai Hotshots from
1979 to 1982 in the Los Padres National Forest. The Ojai
Hotshots is where Will met Doug Campbell and learned and began using
CPS. In 1995, Will was promoted to Battalion Chief and he served in that
position for eight years on the Ojai Ranger District of the Los
Padres National Forest. It is at this time that he began to teach the Campbell
Prediction System course at the USFS Region 5 training centers. He has
since taught CPS in several other Regions of the US Forest Service.
Contact: 805-279-6147. Email:
firefighterdv1@aol.com