HARRISBURG, Ill. (March 26, 2026) — Southeastern Illinois College hosted a week-long Wildland Fire Investigator Course this month at SIC’s Chuck Hearn Outdoor Educational Complex on the Harrisburg campus, bringing together participants from
federal and state agencies across the country.
Conducted in collaboration with the U.S. Forest Service, the training focused on teaching participants how to determine the origin and cause of wildland fires. Attendees represented agencies from California to Maine, highlighting the national scope of the training and the shared need for skilled fire investigators.
Throughout the course, participants engaged in hands-on learning experiences designed to simulate real-world fire investigation scenarios. Using the college’s outdoor training facilities, students practiced identifying fire patterns, documenting evidence, and analyzing burn areas to determine how fires start and spread.
“This training gives participants the opportunity to apply investigative techniques in a realistic environment,” said Ricky Sauls, Assistant Director of CTE and Workforce Education at SIC. “By working through real-world scenarios, they gain practical experience that directly translates to the field and strengthens their ability to support wildfire response efforts.”
SIC’s Chuck Hearn Outdoor Educational Complex provided an ideal setting for the training, allowing participants to work in natural terrain and apply investigative techniques under conditions similar to actual wildfire scenes.
SIC continues to support workforce and specialized training opportunities through partnerships with regional and national organizations, reinforcing its role as a resource for career and technical education.
For more information about workforce and training programs at SIC, contact Ricky Sauls, Assistant Director of CTE and Workforce Education, at 618-252-5400 ext. 2248 or ricky.sauls@sic.edu.