This hands-on, safety-focused course is designed for landowners, land managers, and prescribed fire practitioners who want to confidently and effectively use a chainsaw for property maintenance, fuels reduction, and defensible space projects. Whether you’re new to chainsaw use or looking to sharpen your skills, this training provides practical, real-world instruction rooted in wildland fire and land stewardship applications.

The course includes a 4-hour online pre-course module followed by a 2-day in-person training. The online portion covers foundational knowledge such as chainsaw components, safety standards, personal protective equipment (PPE), and basic cutting principles. The in-person training builds on that foundation with hands-on field exercises, focusing on safe operation, bucking, limbing, and introductory felling techniques in a controlled environment.

Participants will learn how to assess hazards, establish safe work zones, maintain and operate equipment properly, and apply cutting techniques that support land management goals. Emphasis is placed on risk management, situational awareness, and working safely in environments commonly encountered during fuels reduction and prescribed fire preparation.

This course is ideal for those looking to safely manage vegetation, reduce wildfire risk, and support good fire practices on their land.