Indiana CPBM – What is an Apprentice Burn?
Apprentice Burns
The Indiana Certified Prescribed Burn Manager (CPBM) Program requires people looking to become certified to apprentice on two burns (one woodland and one grassland) under the guidance of an existing Indiana CPBM or NWCG RxB1 or RxB2.
An apprentice burn is a supervised, hands-on training experience meant to build experience and competency in managing prescribed fires. The Apprentice gets practical experience in leading and decision-making on a prescribed fire. The Mentor provides supervision, guidance, and oversight to the Apprentice, while still maintaining authority over the burn.
What is a Mentor in the CPBM Program?
A mentor is an experienced prescribed fire practitioner certified as a CPBM, RxB1, or RxB2 who provides mentorship, oversight, and guidance to someone looking to serve as an Apprentice Burn Manager
What is an Apprentice Burn Manager?
An Apprentice Burn Manager is someone seeking their CPBM certification and leads a prescribed burn under the guidance and supervision of an existing CPBM, RxB1, or RxB2.
What are the roles of the Mentor and Apprentice Burn Manager on a burn?
The role of the Mentor on a burn is to help provide guidance, supervision, and oversight to the Apprentice before, during, and after the burn. The Apprentice’s role on the burn is to gain experience in planning, leading, and managing a prescribed fire under the Mentor’s supervision.
Mentoring does not mean you are giving up authority on the burn. It means you are allowing the Apprentice to practice decision-making while you retain control, responsibility, and the ability to intervene as needed.
Guidance for Mentors and Apprentice Burn Managers
- Meet (in person or virtually) and communicate well ahead of the expected burn
- Visit the burn site together ahead of the burn
- Work together on developing the burn plan
- Communicate before, during, and after the burn
| Guidance for Mentors | Guidance for Apprentice Burn Managers |
- Assist the apprentice in preparing a burn plan through revisions, edits, or guidance
- Provide oversight and guidance during apprentice burn experiences
- Allow the apprentice to lead planning, briefing, and management of the burn as necessary
- Model safe decision-making and fire leadership
- Serve as a backstop for the apprentice’s decision-making during the burn
- Offer feedback during and after the burn
- Evaluating the Apprentice’s tasks and signing the Indiana CPBM Task Book (if warranted)
- The Mentor is not expected to:
- Completely hand over control of the burn to the apprentice
- Allow the apprentice to make unsafe or inappropriate decisions
- Guarantee certification
- Lead the development of a burn plan
- Be in contact with the Mentor well ahead of the burn
- Communicate clearly and effectively before, during, and after the burn
- Follow all safety protocols
- Ask questions when needed
- Accept feedback and demonstrate a willingness to learn
- Complete the tasks as outlined in the Indiana CPBM Task Book
- The Apprentice is not expected to:
- Be in full control of the burn without the supervision of the Mentor
What Does an Apprentice Burn Look Like?
Here are 2 example models of apprentice burns. Other models might exist, but these examples provide a few options.
| Traditional Mentor-led Apprentice Burn | Mentor-Oversight Apprentice Burn |
- Mentor is planning a burn
- Burn occurs on property managed by Mentor
- Mentor arranges the burn crew
- Apprentice joins in a supervised leadership role
- Apprentice assists with:
- Burn plan development
- Site visit
- Crew Briefing & Assignments
- Go-No-Go Discussion
- Test Fire
- Burn coordination and management
- Post-burn evaluation
- Apprentice assists with:
- Mentor maintains authority over the burn
- Potential model for:
- New burners looking to get certified
- People without land access
- Apprentice is planning a burn
- Burn occurs on property managed by Apprentice
- Mentor provides guidance throughout the planning process
- Apprentice and/or Mentor arranges the burn crew
- Apprentice leads (with oversight from Mentor):
- Burn plan development
- Site preparation/visit
- Crew briefing & assignments
- Go-No-Go Discussion
- Test Fire
- Burn coordination and management
- Post-burn evaluation
- Apprentice leads (with oversight from Mentor):
- Mentor maintains authority over burn
- Potential model for:
- Burners with experience, but a need for apprentice burns for certification
- Mentors/Apprentices who have a relationship and have burned together previously