Frequently Asked Questions
About Employment
About Courses or Course Materials
About Multimedia
Hinton Training Centre Booking Information
Q: How do I get a job as a ____________ (firefighter, lookout tower person, etc.)?
A: The Hinton Training Centre does not hire these types of positions directly; generally we train them after they have been hired. For information on employment please see the SRD Employment Pages or contact your local Wildfire Management Area or the Provincial Forest Fire Centre (PFFC) (phone: 780-427-6807).
Q: What about seasonal employment?
A: For information on seasonal employment, please click on the "Seasonal Employment" link for information on our rappel, helitack, sustained action, emergency firefighting crews and other related programs. Training is provided after one meets the necessary prerequisites and is accepted into the program. For further assistance, contact the Provincial Forest Fire Centre office at (780) 427-6807.
Q: What services are offered at the Hinton Training Centre?
A: Thank you for your interest in the services offered at the Hinton Training Centre. Most of our firefighting courses occur in the spring (March-May). These courses are designed to train primarily "in-house" Alberta Sustainable Resource Development, Forest Protection seasonal employees. See the "Courses at a Glance" document for a listing of courses, dates and course leader information.
The HTC specifically offers both "member" and "leader" courses that cover all aspects of fighting wildfires. For more information on the wildfire leader courses contact Michelle Wigmore at (780) 865-8308, for wildfire member courses contact Steve Hvenegaard at (780) 865-8217.
Outsourcing of training to the private sector for the "Type 1 Wildfire Crew Member - Firetack and Helitack crews is available through regional colleges such as Grande Prairie Regional College, Portage College, Lac La Biche, and Northern Lakes College in Grouard, AB. The contractor typically supplies this course to prospective employees. See the "Training Providers" document for a list of registered providers.
Q: How do I get structural firefighter training?
A: We train in wildfire only. Please see www.fire-etc.ca for structural firefighter training.
Q: How do I become a CIFFC Incident Command System (ICS) instructor?
A: There are two parts to this question. Generally, there is a basic qualification and then if you want to instruct SRD staff, including staff of contractors who work for SRD in a firefighting role, you need to meet a higher standard. Both applications are the same. You simply send in the required documentation to us here at the Hinton Training Centre and we approve you. Once approved at either level, you will be added to the Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Centre (CIFFC) national list of approved instructors and then can apply to receive training materials from CIFFC.
Q: How do I become a Type 1F (Firetack) Trainer?
A: In order to put on a Type 1F (Firetack) course you need to be a registered training provider. In order to teach at these courses you need to be a registered instructor. Please see our Outsourcing Policy Manual for more information.
Q: I want to teach wildfire orientation, how do I do that?
A: Please see our Outsourcing Policy Manual and/or contact Steve Hvenegaard, Hinton Training Centre, (780) 865-8217, E-mail Steve.Hvenegaard@gov.ab.ca for more information.
Q: I want to take the ___________ (Type 1 Crew Member, Fireline Safety Officer, etc.) course. Can I do that as a member of the public?
A: The Hinton Training Centre is a provincial government facility. Our mandate is to train provincial government employees and stakeholders who provide services for us. For that reason we generally do not train the public. For most courses you would need to get hired by Sustainable Resource Development first (please see the SRD Employment Pages) and then you would be sent to the course by your Wildfire Management Area. If you are a contractor or member of the public looking to provide services to Sustainable Resource Development, contact your local Wildfire Management Area or the Provincial Forest Fire Centre (PFFC) (phone: 780-427-6807). If they see a benefit to sending you to the course, they may approve and submit your name for training. Please be aware that many courses get over-subscribed and even if approved, there is no guarantee that a seat will be available.
Q: How do I get ICS Training materials?
A: If you are providing training for Sustainable Resource Development, you can contact Kevin Hakes, Hinton Training Centre, (780) 865-8372, E-mail Kevin.Hakes@gov.ab.ca and we can provide them for you. Please give us at least 2 weeks notice. For ICS Standards see National Standards for NTWG-Recognized Incident Command System (ICS) Training Providers [PDF (142 KB)]
Q: How do I become a chainsaw instructor/get chainsaw certification? Does the Hinton Training Centre put on chainsaw courses?
A: Contact the Alberta Woodland Trainers Association - Martin Christen at (403) 318-0464 or Wade Smith at (780) 453-3791 ext. 308 or send an e-mail to Martin at: mchristen@golder.com. You can also visit their website at: www.awta.ca HTC no longer puts on chainsaw courses; however, they are held at HTC.
Q: I am from another wildfire agency and we are interested in taking some of your courses.
A: In the spirit of interagency cooperation we welcome other public wildfire agencies. Most times we can fit at least one person from your organization into our course. You will be charged the standard rate. Please contact
Q: I am from another wildfire agency. How can we obtain/use your course material?
A: If you are a not-for-profit agency we will usually supply you the material at no cost. The only thing we require is that you acknowledge Alberta Sustainable Resource Development and the Hinton Training Centre in any of our written materials.
If you are a for-profit agency we do not generally supply material unless there is, in our opinion, a benefit to doing so. Please contact Ferenc Scobie at the Hinton Training Centre, (780) 865-8352 for more information.
Q: Do you put together any custom training packages?
A: We have in the past. It depends on the current workload and the benefit received by Sustainable Resource Development. For example, we have put together a custom fire course for the Lombardie Region of Italy and trained them here. We also have developed training for Mexico. These are in the spirit of international cooperation. We generally do not do training for private agencies.
Q: How much does it cost to attend a course?
A: Tuition is $100 per day and Room & Board is $40 per day (unless listed otherwise).
Q: Is ________ (BC's S-100 course, Ontario's Fire Investigation course, etc.) equivalent to Alberta's _______ course?
A: BC's S-100 course is equivalent to ASRD's Wildfire Orientation training.
Q: Does HTC take request for duplicating material?
A: The HTC's duplication department processes requests for Foresty Division course programs only. Any other government requests can be submitted to: http://www.servicelink.gov.ab.ca
Q: I am from ASRD and the CD is loading on my computer but I don't know how to get a login and password.
A: Please see the help guides at http://www.srd.gov.ab.ca/forests/HTC/Programs/ViewCourse.aspx?courseld=93 or call the government help desk at (780) 427-help, they may need to set you up as an administrator.
Q: I am having problems running the CD-ROM under Windows XP.
A: Please see Fire Training CD-ROM operating procedures on XP.
Q: Can I install your CD-ROM under a network environment?
A: The CD-ROM can be installed on a network. Click the "network setup" to set up your network for data storage. This will copy a workstation install onto your network. You must run the workstation install from the network on each computer. A CD-ROM is still required for each student computer.
Q: How many people can I train with a single CD-ROM?
A: Fire agencies may train as many people as required with a single CD-ROM. If you are a training institute, university or college that charges students tuition and the curriculum includes any of the CD-ROM training courses you must purchase a CD-ROM for each student taking the training. You may use the CD-ROMs from year to year.
Q: I am having problems with installation.
A: There may be many reasons for this. Do you have administrator privileges for your computer? Do you have the minimum system requirement on your computer? Are you attempting to install the program with a pirated copy of the CD-ROM? If you have mulitiple CD/DVD drives on you computer the CD-ROM will default to the next available drive thus the CD-ROM must be installed or read from this drive. Please refer to the user's manual and/or "Installing using Windows XP."
Q: After installing the program nothing happens (or the screen goes black) after logging in.
A: Ensure the CD-ROM is in the appropriate CPU drive.
Q: Principles of Fire Behaviour - After installing the disc I cannot access any of the modules (sections).
A: The administrator must assign courses to the user. Upon adding a user click on the "viewing scroll" and select "courses assigned to user." Click on the user's name you previously entered and click on the "assignments" button. Click on "PFB" in the assignement box. Click "OK."
Q: Upon completing the final exam how do I access my marks?
A: How to Generate a Progress Report. CD ROM Information and Generating Reports [PDF (198 KB)]
Q: Who can book into the Centre?
A: HTC will accommodate your program if it falls within one of the following criteria of HTC's Mandate: Sustainable Resource Development sponsored course's; Forest Protection & Land and Forest Division. Government Levels; Other Alberta Government Divisions, Federal Government, Alberta Government, West Yellowhead Constituency, Yellowhead County and Town of Hinton or groups that are directed by the Town of Hinton. University/Colleges; Forestry related programs, Environmental related programs and Renewable Resource Department. Foothills Model Forest. Forest Engineering Research Institute of Canada (FERIC). Industry; West Fraser and Cardinal River Coals. Youth of Alberta Environment; Youth of SRD and Local youth programs. National/International groups. Non-profit forestry/industry related groups. Town of Hinton agreement for non-profit groups.
Q: Can I have my wedding reception at HTC?
A: No, HTC does not compete with the Town of Hinton businesses.
Q: Can I have my pictures taken on the grounds of HTC?
A: Yes, HTC does not reserve an area on the grounds for photos to be taken; however, HTC would like to know who is utilizing the grounds and when.
Q: Who do I contact if I want to book the Centre as a non-profit group?
A: Your first contact would be Stacey Stahl of the Town of Hinton at (780) 865-6028 or sstahl@hinton.ca