Fire Department Operations Course

Lesson 1 • History and Mission of the Fire Service

Traces the evolution of organised fire suppression and defines the modern fire department mission. Provides context for why current operational standards exist.

Lesson 2 • Firefighter Health, Safety, and Wellness

Covers occupational hazards, injury prevention, and wellness programmes specific to fire service personnel. Grounds students in a safety-first mindset from the start.

Lesson 3 • Fire Department Organisational Structure

Explains rank hierarchy, chain of command, and division of labour within a fire department. Connects organisational design to effective emergency response.

Lesson 1 • Building Construction Types

Classifies construction types by materials and load-bearing systems and links each to collapse risk. Directly informs size-up and interior attack decisions.

Lesson 2 • Structural Collapse Indicators

Identifies visual and auditory warning signs of imminent structural failure during fire operations. Prepares students to make rapid evacuation decisions.

Lesson 3 • Chemistry and Physics of Fire

Explains combustion chemistry, the fire tetrahedron, and heat transfer mechanisms. Forms the scientific basis for all suppression and ventilation decisions.

Lesson 1 • Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus Operation

Covers SCBA components, air management, low-air alarms, and emergency bypass procedures. Proficiency here is mandatory before any interior fire attack training.

Lesson 2 • Donning and Doffing Procedures

Teaches timed donning sequences and safe doffing to prevent contamination transfer. Reinforces muscle memory through repeated practical drills.

Lesson 3 • PPE Decontamination and Maintenance

Details field and station decontamination protocols to reduce carcinogen exposure after fire operations. Connects proper care to extended PPE service life.

Lesson 1 • Hose Loads and Deployment Methods

Teaches preconnect, flat, and minuteman hose loads and their deployment advantages. Efficient deployment reduces time to water on the fire.

Lesson 2 • Hose Types, Sizes, and Couplings

Identifies attack, supply, and forestry hose by diameter, construction, and pressure rating. Correct selection directly affects flow rate and suppression effectiveness.

Lesson 3 • Nozzle Types and Flow Control

Covers smooth bore, combination, and foam nozzles along with flow rate selection and stream patterns. Nozzle choice and technique determine suppression efficiency.

Lesson 4 • Water Supply and Hydrant Operations

Explains municipal hydrant systems, static water sources, and relay pumping to ensure uninterrupted water supply. Reliable supply is the foundation of sustained attack.

Lesson 1 • Fireground Communications

Covers radio protocols, clear-text communication, and structured progress reports. Effective communication prevents freelancing and supports command decisions.

Lesson 2 • Incident Command System Fundamentals

Introduces ICS organisational components, span of control, and unified command principles. Provides the management framework used throughout all emergency operations.

Lesson 3 • Strategic Priorities and Tactical Objectives

Defines life safety, incident stabilisation, and property conservation as strategic priorities and links them to tactical assignments. Ensures all actions support the overall incident strategy.

Lesson 4 • Accountability and Personnel Tracking

Establishes passport, tag, and electronic accountability systems to track all personnel on the fireground. Accountability is the foundation of firefighter survival.

Lesson 1 • Ground Ladder Carries and Raises

Teaches one-firefighter and multi-firefighter carries and raises for common ladder types. Builds the physical coordination needed for rapid ladder deployment.

Lesson 2 • Forcible Entry Tools and Techniques

Identifies hand tools and power tools used for forcible entry and teaches conventional and through-the-lock methods. Tool selection and technique determine speed and structural damage.

Lesson 3 • Ground Ladder Selection and Placement

Covers ladder types, weight ratings, and placement angles for safe access and egress. Correct placement is critical for both rescue and firefighter escape routes.

Lesson 1 • Primary and Secondary Search Procedures

Covers systematic search patterns, victim location techniques, and search team coordination. Rapid primary search directly reduces civilian casualties.

Lesson 2 • Victim Removal and Rescue Carries

Teaches drag, carry, and packaging techniques for removing conscious and unconscious victims. Proper technique protects both victim and rescuer.

Lesson 3 • Thermal Imaging Camera Use

Trains students to interpret thermal imaging camera displays for victim location and fire condition assessment. TIC use enhances situational awareness in zero-visibility environments.

Lesson 4 • Ventilation Coordination with Fire Attack

Explains positive pressure, negative pressure, and hydraulic ventilation and their timing relative to fire attack. Improper ventilation can accelerate fire spread and endanger crews.

Lesson 1 • Post-Incident Analysis and Continuous Improvement

Establishes the process for conducting structured after-action reviews and translating lessons into training improvements. Closes the operational learning cycle for the entire course.

Lesson 2 • Vehicle and Machinery Extrication

Teaches scene stabilisation, glass management, and hydraulic tool use for vehicle extrication. Integrates fire suppression with rescue to protect trapped occupants.

Lesson 3 • Hazardous Materials Awareness and Operations

Covers hazmat recognition, placard systems, isolation, and notification at the awareness and operations levels. Establishes safe boundaries before specialised teams arrive.

Lesson 4 • Wildland and Wildland-Urban Interface Fires

Covers wildland fire behaviour, the ten standard firefighting orders, and structure triage in the wildland-urban interface. Addresses the unique hazards of fires that threaten both vegetation and structures.