Kansas State Module
Training Kansas Firefighters
The Kansas State Module is a Kansas Forest Service-supported wildland fire resource developed to increase the agency’s suppression capacity, provide qualified personnel for in-state and out-of-state assignments, and create a structured training pathway for Kansas firefighters. While the module operates as a deployable national and state fire resource, it also serves as a workforce development platform for the Kansas Forest Service and cooperating fire department personnel. Through the module, firefighters gain hands-on experience in wildland fire operations, leadership, prescribed fire, and incident management while representing the state of Kansas on local, regional, and national assignments.
The Kansas State Module began in 2020 through a collaborative effort between at the time Northwest District Fire Management Officer Christopher E. Hanson and Northeast District Fire Management Officer Bryce Haverkamp to meet a growing agency need; creating an avenue for personnel to gain assignment experience during a time when engine availability was limited. In 2021, the module completed its inaugural assignment to the Black Hills in South Dakota, with Hanson serving as Module Leader and Haverkamp serving as Assistant Module Leader.
The Kansas State Module on their first assignment in South Dakota in 2021.
Since that first assignment, the Kansas State Module has grown into a highly capable and versatile resource, supporting incidents and projects across Kansas,Nebraska, South Dakota, Colorado, California, Oregon, and Alaska. What began as a way to get firefighters out the door has developed into a self-sufficient, operationally ready training platform. The module now provides opportunities for personnel ranging from entry-level firefighters to advanced fireline leadership positions, including Single Resource Boss, Task Force Leader, Division Supervisor, Incident Commander Type 4, and Prescribed Fire Burn Boss Type 2.
The Kansas State Module on assignment in California in 2023.
The module is structured not only to provide meaningful training and qualification opportunities, but also to serve as a valuable asset to ordering units. It is designed to arrive fully self-sufficient for up to 72 hours during initial attack and can sustain operations beyond that through its equipment setup and logistical capability. This level of versatility makes the Kansas State Module unique, as there is no other resource like it in the state.
The Kansas State Module on assignment in Alaksa in 2025.
As the module celebrates its five-year anniversary, its continued success would not be possible without the commitment of Kansas Forest Service Fire Protection Specialists and cooperating with fire department personnel. Their dedication has helped transform the module into a professional, self-sufficient firefighting resource and a critical training platform for the future of wildland fire leadership in Kansas.
Christopher Hanson
Workforce Development Specialist
cehjr@ksu.edu
817-907-5302
506 Main Street, Stockton, KS 67669