NATIONAL FIRE ACADEMY

2007-2008 DIRECT DELIVERY CALENDAR OF EVENTS

The National Fire Academy requires that we have at least 20 participants pre-registered 30 days prior to the class presentation, or they will cancel the class; so register early!

Course Information Sheets

 Comprehensive fire protection approach in a commercial property (CFPACP) (f355)

Objective:                               Upon course completion, students will be able to describe the components of a comprehensive fire protection approach and the benefits of its use, both reactively and proactively; describe the impact of historically significant building fires on building code, fire code, and product test method development; identify three resources available for use to evaluate products, materials, and structures properly for code compliance; assess the validity of a given product performance test for a specific product application or end-use; explain the independent third-party product certification process and the benefits of its use; recognize the impact of smoke and fire paths on the selection of available mitigating tools, applicable codes, and fire safety standards; and, given a case study, identify the fire paths, smoke paths, appropriate fire safety solutions, products, or systems involved, applicable codes that address the fire path, and applicable product safety standards for the products or systems involved.

Description:                            This course uses a comprehensive fire protection approach to frame areas of study around fire growth paths, product, and systems involved with the appropriate fire protection solution, fire, and building codes, and the use of fire mitigating tools.  Analysis of historical commercial building fires highlights the development of building codes, fire codes, and product test methods. Students learn how to assess the validity of a product performance test for a specific product application or end-use, using a certification label. In a final case study, students apply the comprehensive fire protection approach to the analysis of a documented commercial fire and determine the impact on firefighting strategies.  This course complements the U.S. Fire Administration's (USFA’s) National Fire Academy’s (NFA's) resident and endorsed courses in the area of Technical Fire Prevention. 

 Class Size:                              30

 Length:                                   8 hours

Student Selection Criteria:    This class will allow firefighters and fire commanders to gain a more comprehensive knowledge of fire growth paths in commercial buildings and a better understanding of how building materials, contents, and fire protection products and systems could compliment or compromise firefighter operations.  This increased knowledge can assist firefighters to be better prepared to fight future fires.  Additionally, it provides increased knowledge about all aspects of how a comprehensive fire protection approach allows available mitigating tools to work together to control fire growth.  For fire and building prevention and code enforcement officials, this class will increase awareness of fire paths available in buildings; increase understanding of fire and building codes and their application to address real fire growth in buildings; increase knowledge of applicable product fire safety test standards, criteria, and limitations used to evaluate product performance which can assist in determining if appropriate building products were used.  It also will increase knowledge about all aspects of how a comprehensive fire protection approach allows available mitigating tools to work together to control fire growth.

 Fire behavior in a single-famility residence (FBSFR) (P356)

Objective:                               Upon course completion, students will be able to define full-scale fire-testing methodology and explain the benefits and limitations of its use to firefighters; define test methods (testing protocols, measurements, instrumentation) for use on discrete materials and products; recognize and evaluate appropriate instrumentation and equipment used for measuring and interpreting hazards from a fire; interpret test results to determine the impact on firefighting strategies; apply fire-testing methodology to a case study to determine an effective firefighting strategy in structures without sprinkler systems; and apply fire-testing methodology to a case study to determine an effective firefighting strategy in structures with properly functioning sprinkler systems.

Description:                            This course uses test burns of commonly found items in simulated single-family occupancies to provide firefighters with pragmatic, cognitive, and analytical skills for understanding fire behavior. Through observation and analysis of videotaped test burns and burn data, students will learn the value, application, and limitations of fire  testing and test methods, instruments, and equipment. The course presents scenarios and case studies to enable firefighters to assess and devise strategies for fighting actual fires based on their ability to apply data from test burns. Students will learn the burn characteristics of individual items found commonly in single-family residences, as well as individual rooms based on specific variables, such as fire detection and firefighting equipment (smoke detectors, CO detectors, sprinklers), and room size and layout (ceiling height, windows). Analysis and discussion of test results will enable students to evaluate and interpret those results, and develop safe, effective firefighting strategies.

Class Size:                              30

Length:                                   8 hours

Student Selection Criteria:     For firefighters and fire commanders, this class will increase awareness of fire behavior in single-family residences. As a result of that awareness, it will increase understanding of fire behavior. They will gain comprehensive and pragmatic knowledge of fire behavior, and subsequently develop effective firefighting strategies, the ability to improve firefighter safety, and reduce risks associated with fighting fires in single-family structures.  For fire and building prevention and code enforcement officials, this class will increase awareness of fire behavior and the importance of functioning fire detection and extinguishing devices in single-family structures, as well as the risk of inadequate or malfunctioning fire detection and extinguishing devices.

 Fire modeling in a single-famility residence (FMSFR) (P357)

Objective:                               Upon course completion, students will be able to describe the fundamental components of the Fire Dynamics Simulator (FDS) fire model, its uses, limitations, and benefits; identify the impact of assumptions on modeling; relate changes of model input to the change in the resulting model fire dynamics, using given scenarios; interpret fire scenarios using the FDS; and understand conclusions from modeling input and results.

Description:                            This course uses data from test burns of commonly found items in simulated single-family occupancies to enable firefighters to effectively evaluate, analyze, and use fire computer models, such as the FDS.  By viewing expert perspectives and discussing and analyzing results of videotaped test burns and burn data, students will learn the benefits, application, and limitations of fire modeling.  Students will apply data from fire scenarios to the FDS to understand how different conditions may affect the outcome of an actual fire.  Students also will be introduced to different types of fire tests, with explanations of their application and reliability.  The course presents data from test burns of single-family structures to enable firefighters to evaluate those data and assess and devise strategies for fighting actual fires.  Students will learn how boundary conditions and fire initiation affects modeling results.  Analysis and discussion of fire modeling results will enable students to evaluate and interpret those results and develop safe, effective firefighting strategies.

Class Size:                              30

Length:                                   8 hours

Student Selection Criteria:     For firefighters and fire commanders, this class will increase awareness of the importance, benefits, and limitations of fire computer models and their application to fires in single-family residences.  As a result of that awareness, they will increase their ability to develop effective firefighting strategies based on fire computer modeling, and the ability to evaluate and apply fire modeling to actual fires.  They will gain the ability to use fire computer models to improve firefighter safety, and reduce risks associated with fighting fires in single-family structures and increase awareness of the risks of faulty analysis and improper use of fire computer models and results.  For fire and building prevention and code enforcement officials, this class will increase awareness of fire computer modeling and applying modeling results to fire prevention and fire-code enforcement in single-family structures and the risks of faulty analysis and improper use of fire computer models and results.

 Leadership II:  Strategies for Personal Success (LS II) (F/W804)

 (Multiple Roles, Creativity, Enhancing Your Personal Power Base, Ethics)

Objective:                               To introduce the Company Officer to basic leadership skills and techniques needed to improve command and management effectiveness.

Description:                            Designed to meet the needs of the Company Officer, this course provides the students with basic skills and tools needed to perform effectively as a leader in the fire service environment.  This Leadership course addresses ethics, use and abuse of power at the Company Officer level, creativity in the fire service environment, and managing the multiple roles of the Company Officer.

Class Size:                              30

Length:                                   12 hours

Student Selection Criteria:

General Audience:     Fire Company Officer’s and unit commanders responsible for supervising personnel or managing programs or projects (NPQS #1021, Levels I-III).

Selection Priority:       1.         Line fire officers, unit commanders, or program supervisors (NPQS #1021, Levels I-III).

2.         Fire or rescue personnel due for promotion/appointment to officer rank or supervisory position within 6 months (NPQS #1001, Level III).

3.         Training officers, staff, or administrative officers of fire and rescue organizations (NPQS #1021, Levels III-VI).

 Leadership III:  Strategies for Supervisory Success (LS III) (F/W805)

(Situational Leadership, Delegating, Coaching, Discipline)

Objective:                               To introduce the Company Officer to basic leadership skills and techniques needed to improve command and management effectiveness.

Description:                            Designed to meet the needs of the Company Officer, this course provides the students with basic skills and tools needed to perform effectively as a leader in the fire service environment.  This Leadership course addresses when and how to delegate to subordinates, assessing personal leadership styles through situational leadership, when and how to discipline subordinates, and coaching/motivating techniques for the Company Officer.

Class Size:                              30

Length:                                   12 hours

Student Selection Criteria:

General Audience:     Fire Company Officer’s and unit commanders responsible for supervising personnel or managing programs or projects (NPQS #1021, Levels I-III).

Selection Priority:       1.         Line fire officers, unit commanders, or program supervisors (NPQS #1021, Levels I-III).

2.         Fire or rescue personnel due for promotion/appointment to officer rank or supervisory position within 6 months (NPQS #1001, Level III).

3.         Training officers, staff, or administrative officers of fire and rescue organizations (NPQS #1021, Levels III-VI).

Preparation for Initial Company Operations (PICO) (F/W458)

(Formerly Managing Company Tactical Operations:  Preparation)

Objective:                               To develop a better understanding of the role and responsibilities of a Company Officer in preparing the company for incident operations.  In addition, to clarify the transition from firefighter to Company Officer and the new roles relating to leadership and safety.

Description:                            This course is designed for Company Officer’s, acting Company Officer’s, or senior firefighters responsible for the management of a single fire company at an emergency incident, and those officers who are responsible for company readiness, personnel safety, and leadership as it relates to company operation.

Class Size:                              30

Length:                                   16 hours, 20 minutes

Student Selection Criteria:     Company Officer’s, acting officers, or senior firefighters who command a fire company during emergency operations.  Those officers who are responsible for maintaining skills and company readiness.