Naval Firefighter Course

Lesson 1 • Regulatory Framework and Safety Standards

Introduces naval fire safety regulations, watch-standing duties, and reporting requirements. Establishes the compliance mindset required throughout the course.

Lesson 2 • Naval Fire Risk Categories

Identifies Class A, B, C, and D fires plus shipboard-specific hazards such as ordnance and fuel. Builds hazard recognition skills essential for response planning.

Lesson 3 • Fire Science Fundamentals

Covers combustion chemistry, the fire tetrahedron, and heat transfer modes. Provides the scientific basis for all suppression decisions made aboard ship.

Lesson 1 • Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus

Covers SCBA components, air supply calculations, and emergency procedures. Mastery of SCBA is prerequisite to all interior attack operations.

Lesson 2 • Firefighting Ensemble Components

Identifies each PPE component, its protective function, and naval-specific variants. Builds the vocabulary and recognition skills needed for correct gear selection.

Lesson 3 • Donning and Doffing Procedures

Drills the timed sequence for full ensemble donning under operational conditions. Reinforces muscle memory critical for rapid response aboard ship.

Lesson 1 • Initial Alarm Response Procedures

Establishes the sequence of actions from alarm receipt to first-responder arrival. Builds the decision-making framework used in all subsequent response chapters.

Lesson 2 • Fire Alarm Control Panels

Trains reading and operating shipboard fire alarm control panels and annunciators. Connects detection knowledge to actionable alarm interpretation.

Lesson 3 • Detection System Technologies

Surveys heat, smoke, and flame detectors used in naval vessels and their placement logic. Provides the technical foundation for understanding alarm signals.

Lesson 1 • Water-Based Suppression

Explains water's cooling and smothering mechanisms and shipboard delivery systems. Establishes the primary suppression method before introducing specialised agents.

Lesson 2 • Foam and Aqueous Film-Forming Agents

Covers AFFF and high-expansion foam for Class B and hangar deck fires. Builds on water knowledge by adding vapour-suppression capability.

Lesson 3 • Fixed Suppression System Activation

Trains manual and automatic activation of shipboard fixed systems and post-activation checks. Integrates agent knowledge into operational system use.

Lesson 1 • Hose Types and Fittings

Identifies naval fire hose sizes, materials, couplings, and stowage configurations. Provides the equipment knowledge base for all hose evolution drills.

Lesson 2 • Attack Line Deployment and Withdrawal

Establishes procedures for laying, charging, and safely withdrawing attack lines. Builds the tactical hose skills used in interior attack operations.

Lesson 3 • Hose Advancement in Confined Spaces

Drills techniques for moving charged hose through hatches, ladders, and narrow passageways. Addresses the primary physical challenge of shipboard interior attack.

Lesson 1 • Attack Patterns and Techniques

Covers direct, indirect, and combination attack methods for shipboard compartments. Builds tactical flexibility for varying fire conditions.

Lesson 2 • Ventilation Control During Attack

Explains how to manage hatches, vents, and blowers to control fire growth during attack. Integrates ventilation knowledge with suppression tactics.

Lesson 3 • Overhaul and Hot-Spot Detection

Covers systematic overhaul procedures, thermal imaging use, and re-ignition prevention. Completes the interior attack cycle from suppression to secured compartment.

Lesson 1 • Damage Control Organisation

Explains the shipboard damage control team structure, roles, and communication hierarchy. Provides the organisational context for all boundary and stability operations.

Lesson 2 • Flooding and Stability Considerations

Addresses the risk of firefighting water accumulation and its effect on ship stability. Balances suppression effectiveness against flooding and list hazards.

Lesson 3 • Securing and Restoring Affected Spaces

Covers post-fire inspection, system restoration, and readiness reporting for damaged compartments. Closes the damage control cycle and returns the ship to operational status.

Lesson 1 • Triage and Medical Handoff

Introduces START triage principles and procedures for handing casualties to medical personnel. Connects rescue operations to the ship's medical response chain.

Lesson 2 • Evacuation and Muster Procedures

Covers emergency evacuation routes, muster station procedures, and accountability reporting. Ensures all personnel are accounted for during and after firefighting operations.

Lesson 3 • Search and Rescue Fundamentals

Establishes systematic search patterns and victim location techniques in smoke-filled spaces. Builds the rescue skill set that complements suppression operations.