Attention all prescribed fire practitioners: we are now accepting Standard Applications to the Wisconsin Certified Burn Boss Program (CBBP)!
The CBBP is the first program of its kind in Wisconsin, the result of years of collaboration between the WPFC and the Wisconsin DNR. It guides aspiring burn bosses through a sequence of classroom training, field experience, and evaluation, allowing them to gain a DNR-issued credential demonstrating their ability to lead burns on low- to moderate-complexity units in Wisconsin. Experienced burn bosses may also apply for certification through the Legacy Application Form, which launched earlier this year.
Learn more and apply to the CBBP here.
The CBBP provides a new pathway to burn boss qualification that focuses on fire prescription rather than suppression. This is a monumental step forward for expanding the safe and effective use of prescribed fire in Wisconsin– but our work is far from over. Stay tuned for more burn boss resources including:
- The 2026 Wisconsin Burn Boss Academy (which fulfills all CBBP classroom training requirements)
- An online directory of Certified Burn Bosses
- An online system to connect aspiring burn bosses with mentors and evaluators to help fulfill CBBP application requirements
- Burn boss training opportunities designed for landowners as opposed to career burners
