Fire Fighter I Syllabus

Instructor Information

Bryan G. Riebe briebe@greenvilleschools.us

Office Phone: 864-355-4661

Office Hours: Monday-Friday 8:30-4:00

General Information

Course Code: 6514

Description

This course is designed to provide participants with entry-level knowledge and practical skills for Firefighter I. This course is based on standard requirements of NFPA 1010 Standard on Professional Qualifications for Firefighters, 2024 ed., and will prepare students for the accredited final exam for certification at the Firefighter I level.

Firefighter I includes chapters 1 through 15 of IFSTA’s Essentials of Firefighting, 8th edition. This course is designed to train student firefighters to the level of NFPA 1010Chapter 6 by providing entry-level knowledge skills and abilities to perform firefighting at the Fighter I level.

The Firefighter I in all formats consists of a combination of classroom and skill practice to prepare student firefighters to perform fire ground functions under the supervision of an officer or experienced firefighter.

Firefighter I includes both lecture and practical skills to develop specific task requirements across a wide range of topics required throughout emergency services.

Student firefighters will develop a teamwork approach to accomplish tasks and complete objectives required.

Students who complete all course requirements will meet/exceed NFPA 1010 Standard on Professional Qualifications for Firefighters: Chapter 6 and will receive an accredited IFSAC certificate and an application for a ProBoard accredited certificate For NFPA 1010 Firefighter I.

Successful 1196 CTC students are trained to the level of FFI and have the opportunity to test for an IFSAC seal and ProBoard application.

Expectations and Goals

Academic testing is conducted for each chapter and module.  An accreditation test is administered by a South Carolina Fire Academy certified test proctor at the end of the course.  A minimum of 70% is required to pass the course.  At the conclusion of the course, a SCFA test proctor conducts a practical skills test.  The skills are objectively measured by pass or fail with students allowed 3 opportunities of completing the skill.

South Carolina Department of Labor and the SCFA requires all students to be a minimum of 16 years of age at the time of registration.

South Carolina State Law requires each student to be an active member of a local fire department. The student will be registered with the sanctioned Junior Firefighter program at Belmont Fire Department, the sponsoring fire department for the Donaldson Career Center Firefighting Program.

Students should have an understanding of Math, Science, and Physics.

South Carolina Fire Academy (SCFA) requires 80% attendance for SCFA transcript credit and to sit for the practical evaluation.

Academic testing is conducted for each chapter and module. A cumulative exam of topics covered during semester 1 is conducted and an End of Course exam (cumulative of all topics) is administered during semester 2 and students may test a total of 3 times on the EOC.

For South Carolina Fire Academy transcript credit and for the opportunity to sit for the national accreditation exam, a minimum of 70% is required on the EOC exam. 

At the conclusion of the course, SCFA test proctors conduct practical testing of skills. The skills are objectively measured by pass or fail with students allowed 3 opportunities of completing the skill.

Students are offered opportunities to sit for the national accreditation test which is administered by a South Carolina Fire Academy certified test proctor at various locations throughout the state.

Students successfully completing Firefighter I who are not yet 18 will receive a provisional certificate which validates on their 18th birthday.

Required Text

For each student the following materials are provided as online versions by the SCFA:

Essentials of Fire Fighting- 8th Edition, published by International Fire Service Training Association

Performance Task Manual-SCFA

Hazardous Materials-published by International Fire Service Training Association

Access to the SCFA Firefighter online learning management system

Course Topics

Intro to the Fire Service and Safety

Communications

Fire Dynamics

Portable Fire Extinguishers

Ground Ladders

Structural Search and Rescue

Fire Hose

Fire Suppression

Scene Safety and Management

Building Construction

Firefighter PPE

Ropes and Knots

Forcible Entry

Tactical Ventilation

Overhaul, Property Conservation

Hazardous Materials Awareness

Hazardous Materials Operations

Additional Courses 

Hazardous Materials Awareness (Office of Domestic Preparedness online AWR-358dl 

Hazardous Materials Operations

The following courses are not part of the SCFA framework but are offered in Firefighter I.

OSHA 10

CPR and First Aid

Stop the Bleed

National Incident Management System 100, 200, 700, 800

Classroom Tips for Success

Be prepared for class each day by being on time; have a fully charged district provided Chromebook; place cell phones in the provided storage area, and have access to personal notebook/pen/pencil.

Firefighting is a team approach-have a positive attitude, participate and work at full potential

Listen to directions, restating them if asked by an instructor.

Be respectful-firefighters serve everyone.

Uphold fire service traditions-chain of command; flag etiquette, and symbols of honor.

Evaluation and Grading

Donaldson Career Center follows Greenville County School District grading scale.

• 100-90 A

• 89-80 B

• 79-70 C

• 69-60 D

• 59-50 F

*Reminder-The South Carolina Fire Academy requires 70% completion on each chapter test and end of course exam to receive fire academy transcript credit and to sit for the national certification testing. 

Course Late Work

Students will have one week from the assigned due date to complete any missing/incomplete work.

Course Make-Up 

Per South Carolina Fire Academy guidelines, students must attend 80% of the required course to receive transcript credit and to sit for the End of Course exam and practical skills evaluation. Students not meeting SCFA attendance requirements; failing to meet program requirements, and/or missing practical skills evaluation will receive an incomplete and will forfeit their opportunity to acquire Firefighter I status.