Two Day Courses
Full Day Courses
3-4 Hour Mini Course Offerings


Private Dwelling Fires

This class focuses on the most common fire in America: fires in 1 and 2 family homes, or private dwellings (P.D.s). The class is approximately 3-1/2 hours in length. The class includes :
  • Introduction to the Scope of the Problem, Death and Injury Rates in P.D.s
  • Size-Up, The 13 - Point Approach
  • Firefighter Survival Survey
  • Fire Attack, Hoseline Selection, Placement and Water Supply
  • Search and Rescue - Vent, Enter and Search (VES)

Emphasis is placed on developing workable tactics that your organization can implement on the fireground under a variety of common, and not so common, conditions.

 


 

Basements and Cellars, Attics and Cocklofts

This 3-hour class describes some of the most common problems encountered in these most difficult of fires. Lack of access and ventilation, potentially high life hazards, and limited hose stream application points are a few of the difficulties to be dealt with. Early recognition of the problems and having a set of procedures developed in advance are the keys to dealing with these fires. Topics covered include:
  • Definitions of Basements vs. Cellars
  • What To Expect From Each Type
  • Common Difficulties
  • Not So Common Difficulties
  • Fire Attack Options
  • Attics vs. Cockloft
  • Gaining Access
  • Peaked Roof Ventilation

 


 

Store (Taxpayer & Strip Mall) Fires

Fires in stores and other commercial occupancies are severe threats to our firefighters. More firefighters are killed per alarm in commercial fires than in any other commonly encountered blaze. The toll on a community is often staggering when a block of Main St. is gutted by fire or a major local employer is burnt out. The reason many of the blazes end up so destructive is often traceable to the Fire Department's lack of preparedness. Fortunately major store fires are not "every day" occurrences, but as a consequence, many departments try to apply "house fire tactics" to commercial fires. This 3-hour class is designed to highlight the differences between residential and commercial fires, and provide instruction in tactics which have proven effective. In dealing with them, the "Taxpayer Class" includes:
  • Introduction, Store Fires as Injury and Death Factories
  • Construction Deficiencies Common to Stores
  • Tactical Differences between Residential and Commercial Fires
  • Hoseline Selection, Stretching, and Placement
  • Gaining Entry / Exit
  • Cockloft Fires- Roof Operations
  • Trusses and other Lightweight Roofs
  • Cellar Fires- The Firefighter Trap
  • Parapet Wall Collapse
  • "Hidden" Dangers

This class focuses heavily on some of the more common causes of firefighter deaths and injuries in these dangerous structures, and offers useful tips on how to keep your firefighters from falling prey to these common dangers.

 


 

Apartment House Fires

This class focuses on the most deadly fire in America: fires in apartment houses, or multiple dwellings (M.D.s). The class is approximately 3 hours in length. The class includes :
  • Introduction to the Scope of the Problem, Death and Injury Rates in M.D.s
  • Construction Deficiencies Related to Fire Spread
  • Fire Attack, Hoseline Selection, Placement and Water Supply
  • Search and Rescue- Vent, Enter and Search (VES)
  • Fires in Voids: Shafts and Cocklofts
  • Flat Roof Ventilation including Trench Cuts

 


 

Garden Apartment and Townhouse Fires

This class focuses on the more common fire in many American communities: Fires in garden apartments and townhouses. This segment includes the following items common to garden apartments and townhouses:
  • Introduction to the Scope of the Problem
  • Death and Injury Rates in P.D.s
  • Size-Up - The 13 Point Approach and Conducting the Firefighter Survival Survey
  • Exposure Protection
  • Construction Deficiencies-Trusses
  • Fire Attack, Hose Line Selection, Placement and Water Supply
  • Search and Rescue - Vent, Enter and Search (VES) 

Emphasis is placed on developing workable tactics that your organization can implement on the fire ground under a variety of conditions. 4 Hour course.

 


 

Large Event Planning

The evolving nature of our society adds to the complexity of the Incident Commander's life. It's not all about preparation for fighting "the big one" any more. A local 5K run for a good cause, a rock concert that lands at a venue near you, a sudden storm that leaves your community without power and other critical resources, all will impact your organization, and the first responders will be tasked with solving many of the crises the initial event creates. Learn from the mistakes and successes of others who have dealt with large events, both planned and unplanned.

 


 

Building Construction for the Street-smart Firefighter

This is a three-hour class designed to educate firefighters and fire officers of the risks the building creates for fire personnel. Topics covered include:
  • Flashover and Flamespread Hazards
  • Fire Related Causes of Collapse
  • Indicators of Potential Collapse
  • Categories of Buildings and Their Resistance To Collapse
  • Building Alteration Hazards
  • Truss Failure
  • Case Histories

 


 

Fire Behavior & Firefighter Survival

This is a 3-hour class that is intended to keep your firefighters from repeating the same deadly mistakes others have made, so they can avoid the tragedies that others have suffered. It focuses heavily on the changes occurring in today's modern fire environment, and includes segments on the following:
  • Changing Causes of Firefighter Deaths and Injuries
  • The Changing Fire Environment and Its Effect on Firefighters
  • Warning Signs of Impending Firefighter Casualties
  • Prevention of Catastrophes

 


 

Ventilation: The Misunderstood, Misapplied Art

For far too long, fireground ventilation was an afterthought at many fire ground operations. While that has started to change in many regions, it is just as often misapplied or applied at the wrong location or time, as in the past. This class discusses ventilation in a variety of structures, peaked roof private dwelling, flat roof commercial and residential structures, venting for fire, venting for life, trench cuts, positive pressure venting, construction considerations, and the many variables that must be weighed when deciding when, where and how to ventilate. This is a 3-hour class.
 

 

Forcible Entry- Gaining Access and Egress

Before any interior operations can be conducted, the fire forces must gain access to the structure. This can be easier said than done in many occupancies. This class shows your personnel the proper approach to all of the most common forcible entry challenges, and also covers many of the more difficult, less frequent problems stressing a systematic approach that should lead to the fastest possible entry with minimal damage, at any operation. Topics covered during this 4-hour program include:
  • Forcible Entry Size-up
  • Conventional Forcible Entry
  • Hydraulic Forcible Entry
  • "Through the Lock" Methods
  • High Security Problems-Security Gates
  • Padlocks and Similar Devices

Emphasis is placed on the most efficient method of gaining entry with the basic tools at the vast majority of situations, as well as a variety of alternate methods that may be utilized when the basics fall short.

 


 

Aerial Device Operations

This class is intended for all members of an organization who may be called upon to position, use, climb, or order the employment of aerial devices for a variety of purposes on the fireground. Topics covered during this 3-hour class* include:
  • Apparatus Types- Aerial, Tower, Snorkel: Advantages and Disadvantages
  • Scrub Area
  • Ventilation
  • Positioning for Life
  • Positioning for Fire
  • Master Stream Operations

*Additional hands-on operations with your organization's apparatus are available by prior arrangement.

 


 

FD Operations at Bombings and Other Explosions

This is a 3-hour class designed to familiarize firefighters with many of the problems and hazards they will encounter in the event they are faced with FD Operations at a car, bus or other bomb in their community. Topics covered include:
  • Historical Overview of Bombing Campaigns
  • Evolution of Terrorist Groups Use of Bombs
  • Examination of the Israeli Experience: Including differences that could create even greater problems in the US
  • FD Operations at the Scene
  • Threats to Responders
  • "Dirty Bombs"

 


 

Aircraft Crash Rescue for Structural Firefighters

This is a 4-hour class designed to familiarize structural firefighters with many of the problems and hazards they will face in the event a commercial airliner decides to land in their community.

The class focuses on potential outcomes based on crash types, what types of operations and what resources will be required, and precautions and preparations that structural firefighters need to make to deal with these largely unforeseen events. As the class points out, you do not need a major airport in your backyard to experience an aircraft disaster. The pilots always decide where they are going to take off from, they don't always decide where they are going to land. This class differs from most other similar classes in that it is not simply a list of aircraft features. Instead, it is a comprehensive operational review based on a series of actual aircraft crashes where structural firefighters played large roles in the outcomes. It is taught by an experienced instructor who actually operated at six crashes of commercial jetliners. These incidents range from a crash in an isolated area with very limited access to the middle of a built-up residential community, to water-landings.

 


 

SUCCESSION PLANNING: WHAT WILL YOUR LEGACY BE?

"We all serve for a relatively short term in the life span of the organization. A 30- or 35-year career is an opportunity to have an impact during that time frame. But, if you do it right though, it's like picking Supreme Court justices: Your impact will continue for years after you are gone." During this 3- hour presentation, retired FDNY Deputy Assistant Chief John Norman explains why you need succession planning and how to improve your Department's leadership.
  • Management vs Leadership
  • Mentoring and Leadership
  • Establishing and Maintaining Credibility
  • The Role of "The Three P's"
  • Ways to Improve Your Leadership
  • Facing the New Assignment
  • Giving Orders
  • Enforcing Discipline
  • Developing Leaders for Tomorrow 

We are all measured in part by how we mentor others, how we bring others along. All good bosses are teachers, and are always looking to help the unit and the organization. The mentoring process is a component of succession planning. Departments have to look deep into their organization - beyond the obvious answers. You still need people who can make the long hallways, but we also need people to get involved in other aspects of the job - people to develop the training programs, as well as to come off-line and deliver them.