Master’s in Rescue and Wildfire Vehicles Engineering
Online master's programme of 1,900 hours in rescue and wildland firefighting vehicle engineering. 12 modules covering wildfires and ground resources, wildland fire engines, off-road mobility, crew protection, heavy machinery, rescue vehicles, communications, bodybuilding, regulations and procurement, maintenance and electrification, with an assigned technical tutor.
Take the controls.
Run a real engineering trade-off from this field. Move the sliders, watch the model react in real time and beat the challenge.
What you will be able to do
Analyse the operational requirements of ground firefighting.
Specify wildland fire engines and their equipment.
Evaluate mobility and stability on forest terrain.
Design crew protection measures.
Integrate heavy machinery into fire suppression.
Prepare technical specifications for public procurement.
Plan the maintenance and renewal of fleets.
Who it's for
- Emergency vehicle engineers
- Wildland firefighting technicians
- Fire station chiefs
- Special vehicle bodybuilders
- Emergency procurement specialists
- Emergency fleet managers
- Engineering or science graduates looking to enter fire and rescue services
What you'll work with
- UNE-EN 1846-1 (firefighting and rescue vehicles: nomenclature)
- UNE-EN 1846-2 (firefighting and rescue vehicles: common requirements)
- UNE-EN 1028-1 (fire-fighting centrifugal pumps)
- Regulation (EU) 2018/858 (type-approval of motor vehicles)
- Ley 43/2003 (Spanish Forestry Act)
- Ley 9/2017 (Spanish Public Sector Contracts Act)
- Real Decreto 893/2013 (Spanish basic guideline for wildfire emergency planning)
- FlamMap
- Wildfire Analyst
- QGIS
- SolidWorks
12 modules · 1900 h
1.1Wildland fire behaviour1.2Fire regime in the Mediterranean1.3Organisation of firefighting in Spain1.4Ground resources, aerial resources and machinery1.5Types of emergency vehicles1.6Operational requirements of the services1.7Fires in the wildland-urban interface1.8Lessons from major wildfires1.9Climate change and new scenarios1.10Case study: requirements of a wildland fire crew
2.1Classification of fire engines according to EN 18462.2Light, medium and heavy fire engines2.3Off-road chassis and all-wheel drive2.4Water tanks and their compartmentalisation2.5High- and low-pressure centrifugal pumps2.6Hose reels and hoses2.7Foam concentrates and retardants2.8Vehicle self-protection systems2.9Mass, dimensions and mobility2.10Lab: performance curve of a fire pump
3.1Forest tracks and their classification3.2Approach, departure and breakover angles3.3Lateral stability of tanker vehicles3.4Effect of water surge3.5Tyres and variable pressure3.6Wading and obstacle crossing3.7Driving in smoke and low visibility3.8Driver training3.9Firefighting vehicle accidents3.10Practical exercise: stability of a tanker on a hillside
4.1Four- and six-seat safety cabs4.2Rollover protective structures4.3Spray-based self-protection systems4.4Thermal curtains and glazing4.5Breathable air in the cab4.6Personal protective equipment4.7Fire entrapment4.8Vehicle sheltering procedures4.9Investigation of wildfire accidents4.10Case study: design of a cab with self-protection
5.1Bulldozers on control lines5.2Forestry tractors and firebreaks5.3Low-loaders for machinery transport5.4Coordination of machinery at the fire5.5Machinery operator safety5.6Protection of bulldozer cabs5.7Machinery in prevention and silviculture5.8Contracting emergency machinery5.9Post-fire restoration5.10Practical exercise: bulldozer control line plan
6.1Technical rescue vehicles6.2Mountain rescue vehicles6.3Road traffic collision rescue6.4Hydraulic extrication equipment6.5Rescue cranes and winches6.6Scene lighting6.7Command and communications vehicles6.8Off-road ambulances6.9Emergency vehicle regulations6.10Case study: specification of a mountain rescue vehicle
7.1Emergency radio networks7.2Vehicle and personnel tracking7.3Thermal cameras and drones7.4Geographic information systems7.5Fire behaviour prediction7.6Emergency vehicle telemetry7.7Interoperability between services7.8Cybersecurity in emergencies7.9Technological innovation in emergencies7.10Lab: fire spread simulation with software
8.1The emergency vehicle bodybuilding process8.2Lightweight body materials8.3Layout of equipment and lockers8.4Electrical integration of the body8.5Type-approval of the completed vehicle8.6Quality control8.7Acceptance and testing8.8Bodybuilding suppliers8.9Manufacturing costs8.10Practical exercise: locker layout of a fire engine
9.1EN standards for firefighting vehicles9.2Pump safety requirements9.3Vehicle type-approval regulations9.4Vehicle procurement specifications9.5Technical evaluation criteria9.6Acceptance tests9.7Warranties and contracted maintenance9.8Public funding and grants9.9Transparency and oversight9.10Case study: technical specification for a wildland fire engine
10.1Preventive maintenance of emergency fleets10.2Pump and tank inspections10.3Maintenance of rescue equipment10.4Availability during the wildfire season10.5Strategic vehicle reserve10.6Post-incident inspections10.7Spare parts management10.8Life-cycle costs10.9Fleet renewal10.10Practical exercise: wildfire season maintenance plan
11.1Electric urban fire appliances11.2Challenges of electrifying wildland vehicles11.3Electric pumping units11.4Teleoperated firefighting robots11.5Autonomous logistics support vehicles11.6Sensors and early warning11.7Renewable fuels in fleets11.8International electrification experience11.9Technology roadmap11.10Case study: teleoperated robot supporting fire suppression
12.1Definition of the service and scenario12.2Operational requirements of the service12.3Vehicle specification12.4Mobility and stability12.5Crew safety12.6Equipment and bodybuilding12.7Maintenance plan12.8Economic analysis of the fleet12.9Thesis report12.10Master's Thesis: defence before a panel
How you'll learn
Training is 100% online on the SEIUM campus, with downloadable material, recorded classes and an assigned technical tutor. There are no fixed timetables: you progress at your own pace within the intake, so the programme can be combined with work.
Each module combines theory, guided reading of the original standard and applied exercises. The working software is FlamMap, Wildfire Analyst, QGIS and SolidWorks, in free, academic or evaluation versions. Testing is studied through real procedures for technical specification of fire engines, vehicle acceptance tests and wildfire season maintenance plans. Assessment is continuous for each module, plus the final Master's Thesis.
Standards covered: UNE-EN 1846-1, UNE-EN 1846-2, UNE-EN 1028-1, Regulation (EU) 2018/858, Ley 43/2003, Ley 9/2017, Real Decreto 893/2013.
Build it end to end
Your final project follows the real engineering workflow, step by step, reviewed by your tutor.
Where this takes you
Requirements
- A university degree in engineering, science or architecture, or equivalent demonstrable professional experience.
- An internet connection and a computer capable of running the programme software.
- English sufficient to read technical standards.
Ready to start?
Send your application today. Our admissions team replies within 72 hours with your study plan and funding options.
Frequently asked questions
The programme totals 1,900 hours over 12–14 months. You set your own pace within each intake, and your tutor helps you plan the workload around your job.
You work with FlamMap, Wildfire Analyst, QGIS and SolidWorks, using free, academic or evaluation versions. Your tutor indicates the free alternative wherever one exists.
A SEIUM Institute diploma, awarded on passing the continuous assessment and the Master's Thesis. It is SEIUM's own qualification, not an official state degree; its recognition depends on the programme completed and the regulations of each country.
Yes. Modules passed in a course or postgraduate diploma in the same area are recognised in the higher programme. Ask about the recognition policy when you enrol.
A degree in engineering, science or architecture (or equivalent professional experience), a computer able to run the programme software, and English sufficient to read technical standards.
Start dates are set by SEIUM's faculty for each intake. Our admissions team will confirm the next available date when you apply.
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