Conduct a walk-through the day prior to the Fire Ops 101 event. Put yourself in the boots of the participant: When will they need more time for an event or extra rest? What might they be afraid of or worried about? Where can extra instructors ease the concerns of the participants or the flow of the day?

Consider having someone coach your wranglers on their talking points, in addition to the scenarios. For example, in a PPE demonstration, the coach can monitor how much is demonstration or participation, make suggestions and anticipate what questions participants may have. Hands-on instruction is much more effective than show-and-tell. The coach serves as the eye for the participants and ensures they are getting involved and hearing the key points.

Remember to plan for after the event. Encourage wranglers to bring their calendar in case participants are interested in a ride-along. Follow-up Fire Ops 101 with a photo or certificate for the participant. Have the participant's wrangler deliver it to them or present it at an upcoming meeting.

Visit Executing Fire Ops 101 for more information about the day of Fire Ops 101.