Thirty new on-call wildland firefighters with the New Jersey Forest Fire Service’s Southern Division completed their field day training this weekend, marking the final step in qualifying as wildland firefighters in New Jersey.

The nationally recognized training, administered by certified Forest Fire Service instructors, is part of the National Wildfire Coordinating Group’s certification program.

The hands-on field exercise builds on the skills learned during entry-level training and includes operating wildland fire engines, constructing firelines using hand tools and bulldozers, conducting firing operations, deploying fire shelters, using portable pumps, and coordinating communications and aircraft operations.

The New Jersey Forest Fire Service has more than 1,200 trained and certified on-call wildland firefighters statewide who can be deployed as needed, including during major Ocean County wildfires such as the Jones Road, Jimmy’s Waterhole and Shotgun fires.