Our local prescribed fire capacity-building training
The 2026 Plumas Cal-TREX is a 7 day training from April 27th – May 3rd, 2026. This TREX, short for Prescribed Fire Training Exchange, is designed for folks interested in learning about how prescribed fire is used and implemented on landscapes in Plumas County, CA.The week will focus on hands-on learning opportunities and developing crew cohesion. Live fire will be prioritized if there is a burn window. Training will incorporate equipment utilization, weather and fuel observations, fireline leadership skills, medical scenarios, communication, burn planning, and fire ecology.
Plumas Cal-TREX (Prescribed Fire Training Exchange) was established in 2020 as a way to build local prescribed fire capacity while training the next generation of fire practitioners. We bring people from Northern California, the Western U.S., and the greater fire community together to share knowledge, engage in teambuilding activities, conduct prescribed burns, and much more. Each spring, 60-70 practitioners descend upon Plumas County, some local, some from out of the area. In 2023 there were people from over 30 organizations in attendance!
All skill levels are welcome.
We will camp together, eat together, and be students of fire together.
The application form for 2026 Plumas Cal-TREX is open now
Dates: April 27th – May 3rd, 2026
Camping Location: Plumas-Sierra County Fairgrounds, 204 Fairground Rd, Quincy, CA
Burning/Training Location(s): Throughout Plumas County, CA
Applications close on April 3rd
Cost: $250 (fee waiver/reduction available if needed)
What is TREX? TREX stands for Training Exchange. It is an annual event in Plumas County to train local fire practitioners on different aspects of beneficial fire. This includes ignition operations, pump operation, hand tool usage, language we use on the fireline, smoke management, burn plan conceptualization, permitting, approaches to thinning, restoration, and more. There are many other TREX events that occur throughout the US; in ours we cover specific topics related to implementing beneficial fire in Plumas County, CA.
2026 Event Structure:
OPTIONAL
April 26th: RT-130 (Annual Refresher) and Arduous Work Capacity Test (Pack Test).
CORE TREX EVENT
April 27th – May 3rd: 7 days of learning, networking, hands-on training, and hopefully live fire, conditions permitting.
ONGOING
Spring and summer 2026: On-call burning opportunities to help support the Forest Service, PBAs, tribes, and other beneficial burning.
OPTIONAL
Spring and summer 2026: Potential NWCG and other non-standardized fire course offerings.
The event fee will cover campsites, food, and training costs for one week:
Camping
Camping will take place at the Plumas-Sierra County Fairground in Quincy, CA.
The Fairgrounds will have potable water, showers, bathrooms, and limited refrigeration access. Sites for tent or vehicle camping are available. You must bring your own camping gear. See our suggested packing list here.
Food
Breakfast, lunch, and dinner will be provided. We recommend you bring your own supplementary snacks or non-perishable food items if you think you will need them. There is limited refrigeration available on-site.
Meals covered included breakfast on April 27th through breakfast on May 3rd.
Burning and training opportunities:
Burning (piles and/or understory) opportunities will be prioritized during the Core TREX Event (April 27th – May 3rd), based on local weather conditions. Participants should expect the potential of no live fire if weather is unfavorable. There will be training activities throughout the week, even if no live fire occurs. You do not need fireline qualifications to participate in the TREX. However:
- If an opportunity to burn with the Plumas National Forest arises, only folks with NWCG Firefighter Type II (FFT2) qualifications, or equivalent will be able to attend. FFT2 equivalence is as follows: completed NWCG courses S-130, S-190, L-180; FEMA courses IS-100 and IS-700; and current Pack Test and RT-130. Need clarification? Email Ryan Bauer (Operations Section and Training Specialist).
- If private lands burning opportunities arise, TREX attendees will be able to attend regardless of certifications or qualifications, unless the landowner asks practitioners to have minimum certs mentioned above.
- On-call burning opportunities will be available after the core TREX week through partner organizations.
Please spread the word to anyone you think would be interested!
We will be able to support up to 60 participants. Applications will be considered from anyone that applies, but preference will go to Plumas County residents.
If the $250 registration fee is a barrier to your participation, please apply and we will figure work with our funders to offset costs.
Please email Jon Dvorak (Incident Coordinator) and Hannah Hepner (Planning Section) with any questions!
The National TREX program was started in 2008 in order to promote “the spread of effective cooperative burning—helping diverse partners leverage skills, resources and staff in ways that maximize opportunities for outreach, treatment and training” as a partnership between The Nature Conservancy and USDA Forest Service. Learn more about TREX here.
Each year the national TREX program reaching more communities, practitioners, and organizations. Plumas Cal-TREX is organized by people from 10 different organizations, allowing us to educate participants on many facets of land management and how they can integrate prescribed fire. Many of the same folks assist and coordinate the fall Butte Cal-TREX, our sister event.
See some writeups that folks have done about our TREX over the years:
The 2026 Plumas Cal-TREX is supported by the following organizations:
For more information about Plumas Cal-TREX email Logan Krahenbuhl at logan@plumasfiresafe.org or Hannah Hepner at hannah@thewatershedcenter.com