Military Fire Brigade Course

Lesson 1 • Organisational Structure and Chain of Command

Maps brigade hierarchy from fire chief to crew member. Establishes rank responsibilities and reporting relationships critical to safe operations.

Lesson 2 • Role and Mission of Military Fire Brigades

Defines the distinct mission of military fire brigades versus civilian departments. Anchors all subsequent training in operational purpose and command context.

Lesson 3 • Fire Station Operations and Readiness

Introduces daily station routines, apparatus checks, and readiness protocols. Builds the discipline required for rapid, reliable emergency response.

Lesson 1 • Fire Behaviour in Confined Military Spaces

Analyses fire dynamics inside bunkers, hangars, and armoured vehicles. Prepares firefighters for the unique thermal and ventilation challenges of military structures.

Lesson 2 • Stages of Fire Development

Traces fire progression from incipient to decay stages. Enables firefighters to read fire conditions and anticipate structural and tactical changes.

Lesson 3 • Military-Specific Fuel and Hazard Types

Identifies fuels unique to defence environments including aviation fuel, munitions, and propellants. Links fuel properties to appropriate suppression agent selection.

Lesson 4 • Heat Transfer Mechanisms

Covers conduction, convection, and radiation as drivers of fire spread. Directly informs ventilation, exposure protection, and suppression positioning.

Lesson 1 • Structural Firefighting Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

Covers helmet, hood, coat, trousers, gloves, and boots for structural entry. Correct fit and layering are linked to thermal and chemical protection levels.

Lesson 2 • Proximity and Crash Rescue Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

Introduces aluminised proximity suits and aircraft rescue gear. Connects specialised PPE to aircraft rescue and firefighting (ARFF) mission requirements.

Lesson 3 • Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus (SCBA)

Trains self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) assembly, donning, and emergency bypass procedures. Proficiency in self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) use is foundational to all interior firefighting operations.

Lesson 1 • Fixed and Mobile Suppression Systems

Covers hangar deluge systems, vehicle-mounted systems, and portable extinguishers. Firefighters integrate fixed systems with mobile apparatus for coordinated attack.

Lesson 2 • Hose Lines, Nozzles, and Monitors

Trains selection and operation of attack lines, master stream devices, and turret monitors. Proper nozzle technique is linked to agent effectiveness and firefighter safety.

Lesson 3 • Water as a Suppression Agent

Explains water's cooling and smothering properties, flow rates, and limitations. Establishes water as the baseline agent against which all others are compared.

Lesson 4 • Foam Systems and Application Techniques

Covers AFFF, AR-AFFF, and protein foam types used on aviation and fuel fires. Correct proportioning and application technique are emphasised for effective vapour suppression.

Lesson 1 • Post-Crash Site Management

Covers scene security, wreckage cooling, and evidence preservation after aircraft incidents. Connects post-crash duties to accident investigation and safety reporting requirements.

Lesson 2 • ARFF Vehicle Operations

Trains driving, positioning, and agent delivery from ARFF vehicles on airfield terrain. Vehicle proficiency is prerequisite to effective aircraft fire attack.

Lesson 3 • Military Aircraft Familiarisation

Identifies structural features, fuel systems, and hazards of common military aircraft types. Aircraft-specific knowledge drives safe approach and rescue access decisions.

Lesson 4 • Aircraft Fire Attack Strategies

Covers approach angles, foam application sequences, and path-clearing techniques. Tactical decisions are linked to aircraft type, wind direction, and crew survival probability.

Lesson 1 • Search and Rescue Operations

Develops primary and secondary search patterns for military building layouts. Systematic search technique is linked to accountability and victim location reporting.

Lesson 2 • Ventilation Tactics

Covers positive pressure ventilation (PPV), negative pressure, and hydraulic ventilation methods. Correct ventilation timing and placement are linked to fire control and crew safety.

Lesson 3 • Size-Up and Pre-Incident Planning

Trains systematic building assessment and pre-fire plan development for installation structures. Accurate size-up drives resource requests and tactical decisions before entry.

Lesson 4 • Interior Attack Techniques

Covers offensive and defensive attack modes, hose advancement, and nozzle control inside structures. Tactical mode selection is tied to fire conditions and crew safety margins.

Lesson 1 • Hazmat Recognition and Classification

Covers placarding, labelling, and military hazard classification systems for toxic and reactive materials. Early recognition drives correct isolation distance and protective action decisions.

Lesson 2 • Chemical, Biological, and Radiological (CBRN) Hazards

Introduces CBRN agent properties, exposure routes, and detection methods relevant to military sites. Connects agent knowledge to appropriate PPE selection and decontamination requirements.

Lesson 3 • Decontamination Procedures

Covers emergency and technical decontamination of personnel and equipment. Proper decon sequence prevents secondary contamination of responders and facilities.

Lesson 4 • Munitions and Explosive Ordnance (EOD) Awareness

Identifies common military ordnance types and establishes safe standoff distances. Firefighters recognise ordnance hazards and coordinate with explosive ordnance disposal (EOD) teams.

Lesson 1 • Incident Command System (ICS) Fundamentals

Establishes ICS structure, span of control, and unified command principles. ICS fluency is the prerequisite for all coordinated emergency operations on military installations.

Lesson 2 • Resource Management and Logistics

Covers resource typing, ordering, tracking, and demobilisation during extended incidents. Effective logistics sustain operational tempo and prevent resource exhaustion.

Lesson 3 • Communications and Interoperability

Trains radio discipline, common terminology, and interoperable communications with military and civilian agencies. Clear communications reduce errors and support coordinated tactical action.

Lesson 4 • Size-Up, Tactical Priorities, and Action Planning

Trains commanders to assess incidents, set tactical priorities, and develop written action plans. Structured decision-making links situational awareness to resource deployment.