Certifications and Training for
Fire Chief
Ken Johnson
CMFPD
Our Fire Chief, Ken Johnson, has accumulated 1,710 hours of classroom training since joining the CMFPD. That is equivalent to 213 eight-hour days of training. Another way to look at it is 1,710 Hours is slightly more than seven months of constant training. The CMFPD office has a certificate for every class listed below. These hours are understated as you will see there are several classes that we do not have the hours for the class. This figure does not include travel time to and from the class where many times the class was held in Salt Lake City or out of the area. This does not include study time, test time, time required on actual fires or completion of task books. This also does not include weekly training at the CMFPD fire station. The Training is in five categories:
Wildland Fire Training
Structural Firefighter Training
Incident Command Systems
Emergency Medical Services
Other Training
Wildland Fire Training
Basic Wildland Fire Orientation
Basic Wildland Fire Suppression Orientation is a videotape which provides essential information for individuals interested in wildland fire management. It may be used as a companion to S-130, Firefighter Training, and is particularly useful for indoctrination of non-fire management employees to the world of wildland fire. The video provides information on personal preparedness and responsibility, mobilization, incident procedures, proper clothing and equipment, and living conditions in wildland fire camps.
This course is designed to provide entry level firefighters skills and is interactive in nature. Human Factors on the Fireline, has been included as part of this course.
Objectives:
- Explain what the LCES (Lookouts, Communications, Escape Routes, and Safety Zones) system is and how it relates to the Standard Firefighting Orders.
- Construct fireline to required standards using various methods.
- Strengthen, reinforce, and use holding actions on a fireline.
- Extinguish the fire with or without the use of water.
- Complete assigned tasks in a safe and efficient manner.
- Given an assignment in a wildfire environment, describe factors in that environment which could impact safety.
Look Up, Look Down, Look Around – 4 Hours Course required every year
This course is designed to identify environmental factors and indicators of hazardous fire conditions, and how to use these indicators when implementing the Risk Management Process. The course is DVD-based training, based on facilitated exercise.
Objectives:
• Identify seven environmental factors and their respective indicators of hazardous conditions for fire behavior.
• Describe how to use the indicators when implementing the Risk Management Process.
Portable Pumps and Water Use – 24 Hours
Portable Pumps and Water Use is an instructor-led course intended to be presented at the local level. The course consists of three skill areas: supply, delivery, and application of water. Students will be required to demonstrate their knowledge of correct water use, basic hydraulics, and equipment care. The field exercise requires set up, operation, and maintenance of pump equipment. To receive credit for this course, students must have field work observed and approved, and take a closed book written final examination.
Objectives:
- Select equipment required to maintain a flow of water as required by the incident.
- Install pumps, hose lays, and holding tanks to provide water for use during all phases of the incident.
- Perform required field maintenance on a portable pump.
Wildland Fire Chain Saws – 36 Hours
This is an instructor-led course intended to be presented at the local level. The course lessons provide introduction to the function, maintenance and use of internal combustion engine powered chain saws, and their tactical wildland fire application. Field exercises support entry level training for firefighters with little or no previous experience in operating a chain saw, providing hands-on cutting experience in surroundings similar to fireline situations.
Objectives:
- List, define, and apply chain saw safety standards as required by OSHA and NWCG member agency manuals, handbooks and directives.
- Incorporate the approved use, maintenance, and function of personal protective equipment (PPE) in wildland fire chain saw applications.
- Identify basic chain saw parts nomenclature, maintenance, tuning, troubleshooting, and safety features.
- Demonstrate field maintenance tasks required for chain saw operation.
- Demonstrate the tactical application of chain saws in brushing, limbing, bucking, and falling for fireline construction and mop up operations.
Lookouts, Communications, Escape Routes, and Safety Zones – 16 Hours
Students become engaged in the process of designing their own safety program. The small groups will discuss and develop the L, C, E, and S, creating a list of performance standards. The entire class will then work together to produce and edit a contract, based on consensus, which guides performance.
Objectives:
- Practice questioning assignments and situations in a manner that seeks solutions to the original tactical objectives.
- Demonstrate safe work practices/behaviors as outlined in their LCES contract.
NFPA Wildland Firefighter I/National Wildfire Coordination Group Firefighter I – 100 Hours
This course is designed to be interactive in nature. It contains several tactical decision games designed to facilitate learning the objectives and class discussion. Topics include: fireline reference materials, communications, and tactical decision making.
Objectives:
- Demonstrate the ability to use fireline reference tools to facilitate the communication and decision making processes.
- Describe how to incorporate and maintain open lines of communication with appropriate personnel.
- Demonstrate the ability to apply the standard operating procedures found in the Incident Response Pocket Guide (PMS 461).
- Demonstrate the ability to apply information found in the Fireline Handbook (PMS 410-1).
NFPA Wildland Firefighter II/NWCG Firefighter II – 100 Hours
This course provides instruction in the primary factors affecting the start and spread of wildfire and recognition of potentially hazardous situations. It is designed to meet the fire behavior training needs of a firefighter type 2 on an incident.
Objectives:
- Identify and discuss the three sides of the fire triangle.
- Identify the environmental factors of fuels, weather and topography that affect the start and spread of wildland fire.
- Describe the contributing factors that indicate the potential for increased fire behavior that may compromise safety.
Crew Boss (Single Resource) – 24 Hours
This is a classroom course designed to produce student proficiency in the performance of duties associated with the single resource boss position from initial dispatch through demobilization to the home unit. Topics include: operational leadership, preparation and mobilization, assignment preparation, risk management, entrapment avoidance, safety and tactics, offline duties, demobilization, and post incident responsibilities.
Objectives:
- Describe crew boss responsibilities prior to and during mobilization, on the incident, and during demobilization.
- Identify the hazards and risks on various incidents and describe how to mitigate them.
- Describe tactics which are appropriate to various wildland fire situations and procedures to implement them through the chain of command.
NWCG Engine Boss – 16 Hours + Task book skills
This is a skill course designed to produce student proficiency in the performance of the duties associated with engine boss, single resource (ENGB). Topics include: engine and crew capabilities and limitations, information sources, fire size-up considerations, tactics, and wildland/urban interface.
Objectives:
- Perform the tasks of an engine boss in making the tactical decisions required to safely manage an engine on an incident.
INCIDENT COMMAND Type 5
All emergencies and crisis events are by definition and nature chaotic and highly dynamic, creating physical, emotional, and social disorder. During such moments of emergencies, Incident Command system (ICS) has proven to be an effective mechanism to manage incidents of disarray and confusion and to restore order in a chaotic environment.
The ICS is a single standardized emergency management system designed to allow users to adopt an integrated organizational structure equal to the complexity and demands of any size or type of emergency incident. It functions to incorporate and fully utilize all assigned resources and expertise from multiple agencies, and can operate in a multi-jurisdictional environment. The ICS provides accurate information, strict accountability, planning, and cost effective operations and logistical support for any incident.
This course is designed to enable practitioners to operate efficiently during an incident or event within the Incident Command System (ICS). This course focuses on the management of single resources.
The objectives of the ICS course is to provide participants with the in-depth knowledge on Incident Command System, describe the ICS organization appropriate to the complexity of the incident or event and use ICS to manage an incident or event efficiently.
Type 5. Briefings (describe components of field, staff, and section briefings/meetings, give an operational period briefing)
INTERAGENCY INCIDENT BUSINESS MANAGEMENT - 16 Hours
Course Description:
This course meets the general training needs of all positions for which an understanding of interagency incident business management is required. The Interagency Incident Business Management Handbook, PMS 902, is used as the primary job aid to supplement this course. It provides basic policy and direction for incident business management.
Objective:
Given the Interagency Incident Business Handbook and/or the Fireline Handbook, students will locate and apply the appropriate regulations, established interagency procedures, and necessary forms for each of the following incident management areas:
• Application of conduct and ethics in incident support
• Recruitment, classification, pay provisions and timekeeping/recording, commissary, injury compensation, and travel
• Acquisition
• Managing and tracking government property
• Interagency coordination and cooperation
• Investigation and reporting of accidents
• Investigating, documenting, and reporting claims
• Containing incident costs
• All risk
FIRE OPERATIONS IN THE WILDLAND/URBAN INTERFACE – 32 Hours
Course Description:
This course is designed to assist structure and wildland firefighters who will be making tactical decisions when confronting wildland fire that threatens life, property, and improvements, in the wildland/urban interface.
Instructional units include: interface awareness, size-up, initial strategy and incident action plan, structure triage, structure protection tactics, incident action plan assessment and update, follow-up and public relations, and firefighter safety in the interface.
The course requires a minimum of 28 hours for completion. If the optional exercises at the end of the tactics unit are used or a field exercise is included additional course time is needed. Instructors are encouraged to extend the course to 32 hours and add a field exercise covering size-up, structure triage, tactics, and any other local area training as appropriate.
Objective:
• This course provides the student with the skills and knowledge to size-up a wildland/urban interface fire incident, evaluate the potential situation, order and deploy the necessary resources, and apply safe and effective strategy and tactics to minimize the threat to life and property.
Wildland Engine Training – 16 Hours per course each year: 2007, 2008, 2009
Structural Firefighting
NFPA Firefighter I & II – 200 Hours
Covers all required topics for certification under NFPA 1001, requisite knowledge and skills, including specific evolutions. Content includes: Safety, ICS, Fire Behavior, PPE, Fire Attack, Search and Rescue, ladders, Ventilation, Salvage and Overhaul, Vehicle fires and extrication, Ground cover fires etc.. The course is designed to be taught in 4 and 8 hour blocks and can be expanded to include Live Fire components.
Fire Service Instructor I – 16 Hours
Fire Instructor 1 is designed for instructors, training officers and other fire or rescue service personnel with the responsibility for conducting fire department training. This course introduces the participant to basic instructional concepts and techniques with emphasis on those teaching principles and techniques applicable to fire and rescue service training and will provide the skills needed to teach from prepared lesson outlines. Key content includes: effective communication, teaching from lesson plans, methods of instruction with emphasis on skills training and adult learning.
Inspector I – International Fire Codes – 45 Hours
Addresses the principles of fire inspection and application of the International Fire Code. Topics include identification of fire hazards, fire prevention measures, inspection techniques, and pre-fire planning. Includes classroom discussion and actual inspections of both under-construction and occupied buildings.
Hazardous Materials: Awareness - 25 Hours
This course meets the hazardous materials training requirements for Firefighter I certification and for compliance with federal OSHA regulations for firefighters responding to hazardous materials incidents. Participants will be able to recognize and identify the presence of hazardous materials and determine basic hazard and response information form placards, labels, container markings and shipping papers. Course topics include understanding the risks and potential outcomes of a hazardous materials incident, using the DOT Emergency Response Guide, when and how to request additional resources, and the need for and Incident Command System. This course will include testing for Hazardous Materials First Responder.
Hazardous Materials: Operations: Basic - 40 Hours
This course is designed to provide the student with the basic skills necessary to safely and effectively manage (in a defensive mode) the initial activities of an emergency involving the uncontrolled release of dangerous chemicals. Course includes basic incident management, recognition and identification, PPE, decontamination, and product control techniques.
Hazardous Materials Operations: WMD - 60 Hours
This course is designed to provide the student with all of the Hazmat Operations: Basic knowledge and skills as well as the new WMD skills according to NFPA 472. This course teaches the NFPA 472 Hazmat Ops: Basic and, in addition, allows the organization to choose from a menu of WMD modules according to their specific mission. All of the WMD modules can be delivered or ordered separately. Available modules are: Atmospheric Monitoring (4 hours), Illicit Labs (8 hours), Evidence Collection (8 hours), and Victim Rescue and Recovery (4 hours). The 60 hour time requirement represents the Basic course and all of the WMD modules being delivered. Modify the total hours based on the modules selected.
National Certification Hazmat Technician Level – 80 Hours for the initial Class – Every two years must certify requiring 48 Hour Class. CMFPD Chief has taken initial class plus first two-year recertification
Hazardous Materials Technician Level -
The focus and purpose of the Technician Level Responder is to give the front line firefighter the ability to:
Demonstrate all competencies as developed at the Technician level.
Collect and interpret hazard and response information.
Determine extent of damage to containers.
Identify the response objectives for a hazardous materials incident.
Select PPE for a given action and decontamination procedures.
Don, work-in, doff Level A and B suits.
Perform control functions as determined by the action plan.
Evaluate, debrief, critique and document an incident.
Emergency Medical Services (EMS)
EMT – Baisc -240 Hours. 25 Hours/Year to Recertify
Utah State Certified EMT Intermediate – 59 Hours. 25 Hours each Year to recertify
Incident Command Systems
Basic Incident Command System – 24 Hours
This course introduces students to the principles of the Incident Command System (ICS)
associated with incident-related performance. Topics include: leadership and management, delegation of authority and management by objectives, functional areas and positions, briefings, organizational flexibility, transitions and transfers. This course was developed in conjunction with the US Fire Administration (Q-463) and the Emergency Management Institute (IS-200). These courses are built on the same lesson objectives and content as the NWCG I-200 course and are interchangeable; they are all National Incident Management System (NIMS) compliant.
Objectives:
• Describe an Incident Command System (ICS) organization appropriate to the complexity of an incident or event.
• Use the ICS to manage an incident or event.
Basic Air Operations – 16 Hours
This course covers aircraft types and capabilities, aviation management and safety for flying in and working with agency aircraft, tactical and logistical uses of aircraft, and requirements for helicopter take-off and landing areas. Note: The regulations, procedures and policies addressed in this course are primarily those governing federal agency and ICS operations. State, county, or other political subdivisions using this course will need to consult their agency having jurisdiction with respect to regulations, procedures and policies.
Objectives:
• Describe the ICS criteria for typing aircraft.
• Describe safety procedures to be followed while flying in or working with agency aircraft.
• Describe how density altitude, ground effect, and translational lift affect aircraft
performance.
• Describe pilot and aircraft certification procedures.
• Describe the importance of flight planning and flight following.
• Describe correct procedures for loading cargo, transporting passengers, and emergency
landing.
• Describe correct procedures for reporting aviation mishaps.
• Describe tactical and logistical uses of aircraft.
• Describe safety procedures to be followed by ground personnel during water and retardant drops.
• Describe standard target description techniques for directing pilots and indicators of effective water and retardant drops.
• Describe specifications and safety requirements for locating and constructing helispots.
Wildland Urban Interface Operations – 16 Hours
This course is designed to assist structure and wildland firefighters who will be making tactical decisions when confronting wildland fire that threatens life, property, and improvements, in the wildland/urban interface.
Instructional units include: interface awareness, size-up, initial strategy and incident action plan, structure triage, structure protection tactics, incident action plan assessment and update, follow-up and public relations, and firefighter safety in the interface.
The course requires a minimum of 28 hours for completion. If the optional exercises at the end of the tactics unit are used or a field exercise is included additional course time is needed. Instructors are encouraged to extend the course to 32 hours and add a field exercise covering size-up, structure triage, tactics, and any other local area training as appropriate.
Objective:
• This course provides the student with the skills and knowledge to size-up a wildland/urban interface fire incident, evaluate the potential situation, order and deploy the necessary resources, and apply safe and effective strategy and tactics to minimize the threat to life and property.
Followership to Leadership – 16 Hours
This training course is designed as a self-assessment opportunity for individuals preparing to step into a leadership role. The course combines one day of classroom instruction followed by a second day in the field with students working through a series of problem solving events in small teams (Field Leadership Assessment Course). Topics include: leadership values and principles, transition challenges for new leaders, situational leadership, team cohesion factors, and ethical decision-making.
Objectives:
• Students will demonstrate an understanding of fundamental leadership principles.
• Students will assess their individual traits and motivation for entering into a leadership role.
Strike Team Tast Force – 24 Hours
Task Force/Strike Team Leader, S-330 is a 24-hour course designed to meet the training
requirements outlined in the Wildland Fire Qualification System Guide and the Position Task Books (PTB) developed for the positions of Task Force Leader and Strike Team Leader. Examples and exercises in this package are specific to wildland fire suppression. If students are expected to perform in some other risk area, exercises and examples appropriate to the expected risk areas should be added.
Objectives:
• Demonstrate the ability to apply the Risk Management Process found in the Incident
Response Pocket Guide (IRPG) to various incidents.
• Identify and describe the responsibilities of a Task Force/Strike Team Leader (TFLD/STL).
• Demonstrate the ability to apply appropriate tactics in various incident situations with various resources organized into strike teams or task forces.
Intermediate Incident Command System – 24 Hours
This course provides description and detail of the Incident Command System (ICS) organization and operations in supervisory roles on expanding or Type 3 incidents. Topics include: ICS fundamentals review, incident/event assessment and agency guidance in establishing incident objectives, Unified Command, incident resource management, planning process, demobilization, transfer of command, and close out.
This course was developed in conjunction with the US Fire Administration (H465) and the Emergency Management Institute (G300). These courses are built on the same lesson objectives and content as the NWCG I-300 course and are interchangeable; they are all National Incident Management System (NIMS) compliant.
Objective:
• Describe how the National Incident Management System (NIMS) Command and
Management component supports the management of expanding incidents.
• Describe the incident/event management process for supervisors and expanding incidents as prescribed by the Incident Command System (ICS).
• Implement the incident management process on a simulated Type 3 incident.
• Develop an Incident Action Plan (IAP) for a simulated incident.
Fire Behavior -32 Hours
This course is designed to introduce fire behavior calculations by manual methods, using
nomograms and the Fire Behavior Handbook Appendix B. The student gains an understanding of the determinants of fire behavior though studying inputs (weather, slope, fuels, and fuel moisture). The student also learns how to interpret fire behavior outputs, documentation processes, and fire behavior briefing components.
Objectives:
• List the assumptions, limitations, and appropriate uses of fire behavior prediction models.
• Describe how environmental factors and processes affect fire behavior predictions and safety.
• Define and interpret fire behavior prediction model inputs.
• Calculate fire behavior outputs using available fire behavior processors.
• Interpret, communicate, apply, and document wildland fire behavior and weather
information.
Incident Command System 100 Introduction to ICS – 4 Hours
Introduction to ICS, basic features of ICS, incident commander and command staff functions, general staff functions, facilities, and common responsibilities. It provides a foundation upon which to enable entry-level personnel to function appropriately in the performance of incident-related duties.
Incident Command System 200 Basic ICS: for Single Resources & Initial Action Incidents – 16 Hours This course introduces students to the principles of the Incident Command System (ICS) associated with incident-related performance. Topics include: leadership and management, delegation of authority and management by objectives, functional areas and positions, briefings, organizational flexibility, transitions and transfers.
Initial Attack Incident Command – 16 Hours plus four wildland fires
This course is designed to meet the training needs of the ICT4. It is presented in a
discussion/exercise format. The six instructional units cover: Foundation Skills; Intelligence Gathering and Documentation; Size Up the Incident; Develop a Plan of Action; Post-fire Activities; Evaluating Incident Objectives and Manage the Incident. Evaluation of the student is by unit tests and performance based evaluations.
Objectives:
• Demonstrate effective foundation skills (leadership, risk management, and communications) at the ICT4 level.
• Gather and document essential information about the incident.
• Size up the incident, develop plan of action.
• Manage the incident through effective leadership.
• Demonstrate the ability to evaluate plan of action and make adjustments to the plan when necessary.
• Conduct post fire activities.
Incident Command System 300 Intermediate ICS – 24 Hours
This course provides description and detail of the Incident Command System (ICS) organization and operations in supervisory roles on expanding or Type 3 incidents. Topics include: ICS fundamentals review, incident/event assessment and agency guidance in establishing incident objectives, Unified Command, incident resource management, planning process, demobilization, transfer of command, and close out.
Incident Command System 400 Advanced ICS – 16 Hours
This course directs the student towards an operational understanding of large single-agency and complex multi-agency/multi-jurisdictional incident responses. Topics include: Fundamentals review for command and general staff, major and/or complex incident/event management, area command, and multi-agency coordination.
National Incident Management System 700
An Introduction This course describes the key concepts and principles of NIMS, and the benefits of using the system for domestic incident response. At the end of this lesson, the students should be able to describe these key concepts, principles, and benefits.
National Incident Management System 800
This course introduces the student to the NRP, including the concept of operations upon which the plan is built, roles and responsibilities of the key players, and the organizational structures used to manage these resources. The NRP provides a framework to ensure that we can all work together when our Nation is threatened.
Other Training
Basic Emergency Vehicle Operations – 20 Hours
This course will provide the driver/operator with a better understanding of his/her vehicle. This course concentrates on the safe operation of an emergency vehicle by teaching "safety through avoidance." This course also teaches legal and moral responsibilities and vehicle maintenance and records. It combines class room and field training to reinforce the skills presented. This course covers the driving and apparatus placement skills for ADO Certification
Vehicle Extrication – 50 Hours
Designed for EMS, police and fire responders his course also meets the requirements of the Firefighter II objectives for vehicle rescue. Covers responder preparedness, safety, size-up, vehicle anatomy, tools and equipment, accident anatomy, extrication principles and techniques. Emphasizes practical demonstrations and exercise.
Communications training BK radios Forest service - 8 Hours
Designed for EMS, police and fire responders this course also meets the requirements of the Firefighter II objectives for vehicle rescue. Covers responder preparedness, safety, size-up, vehicle anatomy, tools and equipment, accident anatomy, extrication principles and techniques. Emphasizes practical demonstrations and exercise.