SECTION 2.7: 2014 STEAMBOAT SPRINGS FIRE RESCUE FIREFIGHTER I ACADEMY GUIDELINES Purpose The purpose of the SSFR Firefighter I Academy is to train individuals in the basics of fire service, and to certify all successful participants at the State of Colorado Firefighter I level. The course will train in basic fireground and emergency operations as well as specific SSFR policies and Standard Operating Guidelines (SOG s). Participation in the SSFR Firefighter I Academy is as student and trainee and trainees shall have no IDLH duties or assignments other than those during well controlled and supervised trainings. Individuals enrolled in the Firefighter I Academy participate on a volunteer basis and are referred to as Cadets. Organization Academy Instructors will be selected from SSFR membership by the Fire Chief and/or Deputy Chief. The Academy Instructors will act as training officers and supervise the class. The Academy Instructors will be responsible for setting up training, keeping accurate records and tracking Cadet progress. A limited pool of Cadets will be established and make up the Firefighter I Academy class. Objective of Cadets The objective of a Firefighter I Academy Cadet is to successfully complete the program and become State of Colorado Firefighter I certified and trained in all basic SSFR firefighting procedures. Application to Firefighter I Academy Interested applicants should complete the City of Steamboat Application, a letter of interest, and CBI Background Investigation and submit per the instructions found at www.steamboatfire.com. Applicants must meet the following criteria: --Applicant must be twenty-one (21) years of age. --Applicant must be legally eligible to work within the United States. --Applicant must possess and keep a valid Colorado Driver s License. Physical Ability Test Applicants will be required to complete the SSFR Physical Ability Test. The ability test will be fully demonstrated on the testing day and is outlined in SSFR SOG 5.16 attached to these guidelines. Applicants who successfully complete all stations and complete the total test within the allotted time will be eligible for an oral interview.
Oral Interview Applicants who successfully complete the Physical Ability test will complete an oral interview with the Academy Instructors. The oral interview will be used to select the applicants who are the most suitable candidates to enroll in the Academy. Job Compatibility Screening and Background Investigation Applicants selected from the oral interview with the Academy Instructors will complete a Job Compatibility Screening and fingerprinting for additional Background Investigation and pending successful completion of these screenings will be selected to enroll in the Academy. Orientation Applicants who are selected to be enrolled in the Firefighter I Academy will attend a course orientation. Orientation will include a thorough review of course guidelines, review expectations of cadets, present the course schedule, and cover the SSFR cadet code of conduct. Course Training A schedule of course trainings will be developed by the SSFR Academy Instructors in a manner that covers all IFSTA Essentials chapters and skills as well as necessary SSFR procedures and S.O.G S. The 2017 Academy will occur on primarily on Wednesday evenings from 6pm 10pm and Saturdays from 9am-5pm. The course schedule will outline the topics covered at each class. The Wednesday trainings will be primarily classroom / lecture while the Saturday sessions will focus on JPR s and practical handson training. Some additional trainings will be scheduled outside of the typical Wednesday / Saturday schedule. SSFR Cadet Code of Conduct Cadets must maintain a standard of personal behavior that is above reproach both on and off duty. Cadets, thru their association with the Firefighter I Academy, are inseparable from the reputation of SSFR and as such must maintain the highest ethical standards, be a role model for the community and never violate the public trust. SSFR expects cadets to demonstrate a high level of integrity, personal accountability, reliability, initiative, and a strong desire to serve the public Cadets will attend all course trainings, attendance completion of all course trainings covered in the schedule is necessary to ensure thorough and complete understanding of all material. Absences from any training is strongly discouraged, if a Cadet must miss a training advance notice must be given directly to an Academy Instructor and the approval of absences will be considered on an individual basis based on overall performance and current course standing. Even in the event of an approved absence the Cadet will still be responsible for learning all material and taking all exams. Additional make-up work may be required. Cadets will meet written testing requirements and maintain required testing scores. See: Written Testing section.
Cadets will learn required practical skills / Job Performance Requirements (JPR s) and successfully pass practical skills tests at the time of the mid-term and final exams. See: Practical Testing section. Cadets will read, understand and comply with the all applicable SSFR Policies and Standard Operating Guidelines. Cadets will be tested on selected policies and SOG s thru both written and practical testing methods. In addition to Academy course trainings, Cadets gain additional training and knowledge by attending regular SSFR department trainings. A minimum of 25 hours of these regular department trainings are to be completed by each cadet during their time in the Academy. A schedule of department trainings can be found on the department scheduling website. It is the responsibility of each cadet to ensure they attend at least 25 hours of regular shift trainings. Cadets are highly encouraged to attend as many department trainings as possible. In order to gain practical experience on actual emergency scenes Cadets will ride-along with full-time SSFR crews for a minimum of three (3) shifts per calendar month. These shifts occur as 9 hour day shifts (8:00am 5:00pm) and Cadets will self-schedule these shifts through sign-up on the department scheduling website www.emsmanager.net/steamboat. In order to ensure adequate supervision and allow the greatest training opportunity, no more than two cadets per shift will be permitted to ride along. Cadets will complete training and receive certification in IS-100 Incident Command and IS-700 National Incident Management Systems. This requirement can be completed thru a verity of methods including on-line self-study. All cadets need to have completed IS- 100 certification by the time of the scheduled Firefighter I Academy Live Burn and IS- 700 certification by the time of the Firefighter I Academy Final Exam. Cadets will assist with the delivery of SSFR Public Education events. Each Cadet will assist with two (2) SSFR public education events. Participation in the Public Education Events can be scheduled thru the Academy Instructors. Cadets are encouraged to be involved with delivering as many additional Public Education Events as they would like and participation in these events is rarely limited. Cadets are only allowed to respond to emergency scenes while completing ride-along shifts with full-time staff. Cadets will always ride as additional personnel and not to be used to meet staffing minimums. Anytime a Cadet is present on an emergency scene the Cadet will be under the direct supervision of a Captain, Acting Officer or the apparatus officer on which the Cadet responded. Cadets will participate in the Firefighter I Academy live burn training and attendance at this training is mandatory for successful course completion. After completing the
Firefighter I Academy live burn, cadets may attend additional regular department live burn trainings with the advance approval of the Academy Instructors. Prior to the completion of the Firefighter I Academy live burn, Cadets will not participate in an active role in any actual emergency scene. Cadets at this level are allowed to be present at emergency scenes as observers to facilitate learning and gain the experience of being on an emergency scene. Cadets who have completed the live burn will be permitted to participate, to a limited degree in support roles, in actual emergency scenes. Cadets at this level begin to participate in emergency scenes at the discretion of the Incident Commander. This is an opportunity for cadets to further their training thru application of learned skills. Cadets shall not be placed in any IDLH environment on any emergency scene. Cadets are not permitted to respond directly to an emergency scene and are only permitted on-scene when completing ride along shifts. Written Testing A written test will be given covering each scheduled training topic, the test will cover material form the IFSTA manual Essentials of Fire Fighting, department policies, and department SOG s. Cadets must maintain a cumulative average of 80% or better on these tests to qualify to take the Firefighter I Academy mid-term and final exams. Cadets scoring lower than 70% on any exam will be required to write a 2 page research paper on the subject matter of that exam and retake the exam at the next week s training. The original score will always be used to calculate the Cadets cumulative average. The testing retake and research paper are required to ensure that every Cadet properly learns all required material. A written mid-term exam will be given covering material from the IFSTA manual Essentials of Fire Fighting, department policies, department SOG s, and materials presented during course trainings. Each cadet must score 80% or better on the mid-term exam to be eligible to advance in the course. If a cadet scores less than 80% on the midterm, at the discretion of the Academy Instructors, the cadet may be allowed one additional opportunity to pass the mid-term exam. A written final exam will be given covering material from the IFSTA manual Essentials of Fire Fighting, department policies, department SOG s, and materials presented during course trainings. Each cadet must score 80% or better on the final exam to be eligible to graduate from the Firefighter I Academy. If a cadet scores less than 80% on the final exam, at the discretion of the Academy Instructors, the cadet may be allowed one additional opportunity to pass the final exam At the time of the final exam each cadet shall also take the State of Colorado Firefighter I written exam. Passing the Written State of Colorado Firefighter I exam and the Firefighter I Academy final practical exam will qualify the cadet to be Colorado Certified Firefighter I.
A final course written testing score shall be calculated for each cadet and shall be calculated with tests rated as follows: --Course Exams - 40% of final grade --Mid Term - 30% if final grade --Final - 30% of final grade Practical Testing Practical skills will be conducted on each topic and will be based upon common firefighter job performance requirements (JPR s). These skills will be clearly demonstrated by the course instructors and summarized in a JPR handout. It is the responsibility of each cadet to practice and become proficient at all JPR s and practical skills. Cadets will be tested on JPR s and practical skills at the time of the mid-term and final exams. Several practical skills will be chosen from the skill list and will be demonstrated by the cadet or a team of cadets. The final exam practical will also serve to qualify the cadet for State of Colorado Firefighter I certification. Dress Code All cadets will comply with the SSFR uniform dress code. Bunker gear is issued to all cadets and is mandatory for all trainings and ride alongs. Cadets responding to any emergency scene shall follow department policies and SOG s for required PPE and uniform. Cadets performing a ride along with full-time staff should dress in a department uniform and wear appropriate station boots. Course Graduation Upon successful completion of all requirements of the Firefighter I Academy cadets will be eligible for graduation. Any cadet who graduates from the SSFR Firefighter I Academy, obtains State of Colorado Firefighter I certification and HAZMAT Operations certification will be eligible to apply for open employment positions with SSFR. Successful completion of the SSFR Academy in no way guarantees future employment with SSFR and no employment offer is either stated or implied. All Cadets complete the SSFR Academy in a volunteer capacity and upon completion of the Academy their relationship with the Department is completed. Completion of the Academy simply allows individuals to obtain the training and certifications necessary to apply for future employment with SSFR should such opportunity arise. Amendments The City of Steamboat Springs, SSFR, the Fire Chief and the Academy Instructors reserve the right to change or amend these guidelines at any time.