Sunday - March 15, 2026

Today is the first day of the Academy! Each day starts with morning briefing at 7:15 am. Morning briefing will be live-streamed on our YouTube channel at www.youtube.com/@azwima. Keep an eye out for communication with the expectation for attending. Instructors may play briefing each day in the classroom and students may go straight to class. Morning briefing is mandatory for all those attending the academy.

We can’t wait to see everyone for another year of learning and networking.

Monday - March 16, 2026

Have you checked out the Vendor area located in the lower hangar? Here’s your chance and it won’t make you late for class. Join us in the Lower Hangar (Student Center, Building 16) at ERAU on Monday from 4:30 – 6:30 pm as our vendors host an evening for our students, instructors, and IMT to stop by and see what they have to offer. Over a dozen vendors have booths set up where you can check out some of the latest equipment and maybe make a purchase or two. Vendors are set up for the duration of the academy and you can stop by at any time during a class break, lunch time, or after class has ended.

Tuesday - March 17, 2026

Event takes place at Prescott Resort in the ballroom. Doors open at 5:30pm for seating but will close promptly at 6pm. Doors will NOT open until the ceremony is completed at 6:30pm.

If you haven’t attended in the past, expect a night of honor and tradition as we remember the fallen from the past year with a Honor Guard ceremony and includes pipes and drums. We will also announce the Southwest Wildland Firefighter of the Year and our very own Herb McElwee award. Throughout the evening, there are raffle prizes and an auction to raise money in support of our scholarship fund and other organizations that we partner with.

Stop by the AWIMA Booth in the vendor area to pick up your admission ticket.

In 2022, we produced a video in place of our in-person event. Watch the 2022 Tribute Night video by visiting our YouTube channel.

Wednesday - March 18, 2026

Dinner fundraiser at Red Robin. 20% of food sales* go back to Arizona Wildfire & Incident Management Academy. A flyer is available on our Facebook or you can mention the Academy when placing your order at the restaurant.

Join us for dinner before or after visiting the GMIHC Learning and Tribute Center.

Red Robin

3055 Gateway Blvd.,

Prescott, AZ 86303

If ordering online, please follow these instructions:

  1. Start your order at order.redrobin.com and select the restaurant above.

  2. In the menu, go to the category labeled “Fundraisers (To-Go Only)” and click on that item.

  3. Click the “add” button, and then “add to bag.”

  4. Add your meal items and check out.

  5. Arrive at Red Robin, come in, say hi, grab your food and be on your way! If your location has curbside pick-up, we can bring it to your car too!

Wednesday - March 18, 2026

Join us for an evening at the Granite Mountain Interagency Hotshot Crew Learning and Tribute Center. The center is located at:

Prescott Gateway Mall​
3250 Gateway Boulevard​
Prescott, Arizona 86303​
(Dillard's end of the mall)​

The mission of the center is to establish and operate a wildland fire learning center that honors the Granite Mountain Interagency Hotshot Crew (GMIHC) by telling their story, displaying and housing artifacts/memorabilia, and educating visitors about wildland fire, firefighting, and prevention.

Thursday - March 19, 2026

Enter this year’s photo contest by submitting photos that you have taken during the 2025 Wildfire Season. Any photos submitted must be the sole property of the person making the submission and ensures that these photos are not subject to copyright issues. All submissions must be in by noon on Thursday. A voting process will take place that afternoon by the members of the Incident Management Team, Academy staff and Academy Board Members.

Rules

  • Submissions are only accepted from those attending the 2026 Academy. This includes students, instructors, and IMT members.

  • Up to 3 photos may be submitted per person

  • Submit photos to pio@azwima.org with your name, phone number and description of photo(s)

  • Submission period is open Sunday, March 15th at 7am through Thursday, March 19th, 2026 at noon. Photos received outside of this time period will not be considered

  • Winner will be announced at morning briefing on Friday, March 20th.

  • By participating in this contest, you are granting AWIMA permission to publish the photo in any publication as they see fit

Friday - March 20, 2026

Join us today at 1:00 PM for the S-130/190 Graduation Ceremony as we celebrate our newest Wildland Firefighters!

Family and friends are welcome to attend in person. If you can’t make it, you can watch the ceremony LIVE at www.youtube.com/@azwima, or view the recording later.

Come help us welcome these graduates into our wildland fire community and fire family. The S-130/190 course is a foundational requirement for anyone involved in wildfire response. Our graduates represent a wide range of roles that support wildfire operations, including Incident Management Team positions such as finance, public information, logistics, planning, and medical, in addition to firefighters in the field.

We’re proud of this group and excited to see the many ways they will support wildfire response and our communities.