The regulations in New York State regarding the training of professional volunteer firefighters are minimal. For the most part, these regulations are under the auspices of the Department of Labor via the office of PESH. The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) has written consensus standards adopted by the Occupational Health and Safety Association (OSHA) as the minimum training requirements. The Suffolk County Fire Academy (SCFA) ascribes to these standards as set forth by the NFPA.

In keeping with the spirit of these standards, the SCFA has compiled the following course of study for firefighters at various stages of their careers. The study guides are merely a suggestion and are intended to help the firefighter and the Chief meet the minimum standards of training. The guides do not include departmental field training evolutions, which are designed to supplement the classroom training and assist the training officer in meeting the OSHA mandates for refresher training.

ENTRY LEVEL FIREFIGHTER 1 - 4 YEARS IN THE FIRE SERVICE

A. Courses delivered at local fire departments:

Firefighter 1 - approximately 107 hrs of study in compliance with NFPA standard 1001 and Haz-Mat Operations standard 1910. This is a pre-requisite program for most of the advanced courses offered by the Academy. Students have two years to complete the program once classes are started.

Radio Procedures - a two-session course designed to familiarize all firefighters with proper radio communications utilized within the county.

Electrical and Gas Emergencies - two separate, two-session courses intended to teach all firefighters the proper handling of everyday emergencies involving these hazards.

Engine Company Operations - a five-session course designed to complement the basic lessons of the Firefighter 1 program (FF1 is a pre-requisite for this course).

Ladder Company Operations - same as Engine Ops only concentrating on Ladder Company functions (FF1 is a pre-requisite for this course).

The above listing is again only a suggested plan of study for the beginning firefighter intending to orient him/her with the fire service without being overwhelmed. We understand and hope this would be in conjunction with your department's own training program at home and hands-on live fire training here at the Academy. Nor does this outline intend to discourage or deny a motivated firefighter from taking more advanced classes in a shorter time frame. The fire departments have the responsibility to familiarize the new firefighters with their procedures and keep proper records of all the training their firefighters receive.

B. Courses delivered at the Fire Academy:

1. Maze training requiring 2 sessions for a total of five hours training.

2. "Live" fire training consisting of training sessions at the following training facilities at Yaphank:

• Class "A" facility - 3 hours

• Taxpayer facility - 3 hours

• Flammable Liquid facility - 3 hours

• Vehicle Fire facility - 3 hours

Following this suggested approach, a "new" firefighter will receive a total of 173 hours training.

VETERAN FIREFIGHTER (4 OR MORE YEARS EXPERIENCE)

A. Courses delivered at fire departments:

Firefighter 2 - A 13-session program delving deeper into selected topics covered in the FF1 program. This program must be coupled with auto extrication and Incident Command training to be completely compliant with the NFPA 1001 standard for FF2.

Heavy Rescue 1 & 2 - 11 sessions and 8 sessions, respectively, in a combined lecture and hands-on format. FF1, Basic or Essentials is a prerequisite.

Advanced Forcible Entry - 2 sessions with no prerequisite.

Incident Command - 6 sessions culminating with a National certificate. For firefighters, FF1, Basic or Essentials is required.

EVOC - 4 sessions; 2 lecture and 2 hands-on.

Haz-Mat Ops. Refresher - required by OSHA annually.

Once again this is a suggested plan of training to provide the firefighter with a well- rounded education and comply with current Federal and State standards. It is by no means a complete and comprehensive program. This is primarily classroom training that should be complemented with your department's live fire training evolutions. There are additional specialty subjects certain firefighters may take advantage of; this recommended plan covers the basics.

B. Courses delivered at the Fire Academy:

1. Natural Gas Emergencies Part 2: 3 hours of demonstrations with props.

2. Electrical Hazards I & II: Two sessions which includes lecture and hands-on training at the Yaphank facility.

3. Live Fire Training at the following:

• Taxpayer Facility

• Tower Facility

• LP Gas Facility

• Class "A" Facility

Following this suggested approach, a veteran firefighter receives a total of 184 additional hours of training.

FIRE OFFICER CANDIDATE

Incident Safety Officer - A four-session course resulting in a National certificate (Recommended)

Volunteer Emergency Service Management - (VESM) a National Fire Academy course five sessions in duration.

Fire Officers Training - An eleven-session program taught in a college level atmosphere resulting in a Suffolk County Fire Academy certificate.

All of the above programs require FF1, Basic or Essentials as a minimum prerequisite.

ISO requires ICS as a prerequisite.

Fire Officers Training also requires ICS and VESM prior to signing up for this program.

All of these programs require the student to attend all of the sessions in order as each session builds upon the other.

It is further recommended that a fire officer candidate attend the courses previously mentioned for the entry level and veteran fire fighter.

CHIEF OFFICER

Fire Chiefs are responsible for a myriad of functions and tasks. These responsibilities include fire suppression personnel, equipment, planning, budget, safety and he/she must also be a manager, administrator and a politician. The Chief must have the desire to serve and ability to lead the Department. The Fire Chief Officer Certification Course includes the following.

Chief Officer Certification* includes:

• FF I & FFII - SCFA

• VESM - NFA

• Fire Officer Training - SCFA

• ISO - National (Available at SCFA)

• ICS - National (Available at SCFA)

• Empire State College - SUNY

  • Advanced Administrative

  • Fire Personnel Management

* The student needs to be aware of prerequisite classes for any of the above programs. Please consult the detailed course outlines in Section 3.

Firefighter I

107 hours complies with NFPA Standard 1001

The Suffolk County Fire Academy is always trying to offer the latest in training so that our firefighters are up to date on new training issues and standards. The NFPA standard 1001 Firefighter Professional Qualifications states minimum job performance requirements for volunteer firefighters whose duties are primarily structural in manner.

Firefighter I is the first level of progression. The general knowledge requirements are:

• Organization of the Fire Department

• Role of the Firefighter

• Mission of fire service

• Fire department's SOP and regulations as they apply to the Firefighter

• Role of other agencies as they relate to the fire department

• Critical aspects of NFPA 1500 related to Firefighter I

• Knot types and usage, difference between Life Safety and Utility Rope

• Fire department communications

• Fire ground operations

Under each of the above topics are prerequisite knowledge and skills that the Firefighter I candidate must be able to perform to complete this program.

All students will be evaluated during all hands-on sessions and must successfully complete each task.

NOTE: Prior to taking hands-on sessions, probationary firefighters must be certified by the Chief of the Department in the following areas: 1) is qualified on the Department's SCBA equipment and 2) is physically and medically fit to undertake the training and passed the Department's required physical examination.

The student will have 2 years from the starting date of his classes to complete this course.

Firefighter II Basic

The role and responsibilities of the Firefighter II are assuming and transferring command within an incident management system, performing assigned duties in conformance with applicable NFPA and other safety regulations and the authority of having jurisdiction procedures.

Firefighter II is the second level of progression. Some of the general skill requirements would include the ability to determine the need for command, organize and coordinate an incident management system until command is transferred, and function within an assigned role in the incident command system.

• Fire department communications

• Complete a basic Incident Report

• Fire ground operations:

  • Extinguish an ignitable liquid fire

  • Coordinate an interior attack line in a structure fire

  • Control a flammable gas cylinder fire

• Rescue operations prevention, preparedness and maintenance:

  • Extricate a victim entrapped in a motor vehicle

  • Assist rescue operation teams

• Protect evidence of fire cause and origin

• Prevention, preparedness and maintenance:

  • Prepare a pre-incident survey

  • Maintain power plants, power tools and lighting

  • Perform an annual service test on fire hose

  • Test the operability of sand flow from a fire hydrant

All students will be evaluated during all hands-on sessions and must successfully complete each task. The student will have 3 years from the start of Firefighter II Basic to complete these courses to receive Firefighter II certification.

To meet these standards for Firefighter II, the Academy will require the following courses before you can receive a Firefighter II certification.

1) Firefighter II Basic

2) Incident Command

3) Heavy Rescue

Upon successful completion of the above 3 courses, the student will earn the Firefighter II certification.

Revised 11/27/2006