Chainsaw classes are often available to professionals in outdoor industries or wildland fire. However, landowners and non-professional sawyers also need access to chainsaw classes for land management and restoration purposes, but such training is lacking. NMFWRI’s Fire Informed Restoration Education New Mexico (FIRENM) initiative addressed this gap through the pilot Community Chainsaw Refresher class, which filled within hours of opening enrollment.
Five dedicated students took the 2-day weekend class in January with local instructor Jamie Knutson covering basic saw maintenance, Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) use, and bucking and felling techniques in a supportive environment. Participants learned how to sharpen, maintain, and operate their saws, to build confidence on their own equipment. Students described the workshop as “valuable,” “super helpful,” and “a terrific resource.” Future classes will target novice sawyers, intermediate sawyers seeking to build their confidence, and a deeper dive into saw maintenance and repair.
