This class is designed to help company officers, or aspiring officers gain the knowledge and practical skills required to effectively lead fire companies. Classroom discussions and activities are based on emergency scene responsibilities, safety, and leadership qualities.
The scope of this course is to prepare local responders to operate as a local member of a regional team within the NIMS that has resulted in the need for an Operations-level, Permit-required confined space rescue. The Confined Space Rescue Awareness and Operations course has been designed in accordance with NFPA Standards. The class covers the federal and state regulations; the use of specialized equipment for atmospheric monitoring, ventilation, and isolation; SCBA use inside a confined space; and employment of rescuer-constructed retrieval systems. Special emphasis will be given to rescuer safety, scene management, patient care and movement utilizing full-body patient immobilization, and the construction and operation of retrieval systems. Simulated rescue evolutions involving various rescue problems will be conducted.
Students who successfully complete the course will qualify for National Certification through both Pro Board and IFSAC, NFPA 1006, 2021 Edition Operations Chapter 7.2.
The course will provide the participant with a fundamental understanding of elevator equipment, how elevators operate during normal function, and review safety and failure modes for such equipment. This will include a review of rescue considerations and preparing for the advanced rescue if needed.
Upon successful completion of this class, the student will have an increased understanding of the function of an elevator and techniques to be considered as part of the rescue operation.
This 40-hour course is designed for firefighters who are assigned to or may be assigned to operate fire department apparatus in the normal course of their duties. This course is designed to develop firefighters understanding of mechanical principles of fire pumps and their controls, principles of water and water distribution systems, intake and discharge hydraulics, fire stream production, relay pumping operations, care and maintenance of pumper apparatus, and troubleshooting. Students will practice producing effective fire streams from hydrants, relay operations, and static water sources. Students will also practice determining pump discharge pressures for hydraulic situations that range from single line problems to multiple-line relay operations to provide a solid understanding of fire ground hydraulics and practical solutions to apply these concepts to their department.
This class expands on the basic fire behavior materials learned during initial firefighting training. It focuses on the importance of deducing critical fire characteristics from the attributes of visible smoke. Students will learn how understanding smoke volume, velocity, density, and color can help predict hostile fire events, as well as tactics and strategies that are useful to prevent these events from occurring.
The goal of this course is to prepare students whom will be designated by an incident commander (IC) as the incident safety officer (ISO). This course will teach students how to monitor the various types of incidents including Fire, EMS, Technical Rescue, and Hazardous Materials scenes, and report to the IC the status of conditions, hazards, and risks present. This course will also cover accident investigation and review procedures as well as how to develop and participate in a post-incident analysis.
Required for National Certification (ProBoard):
IFSI must have a copy of your NFPA 1021 Fire Officer I certification on file for you to receive a ProBoard certificate.
This 8-hour course is designed for Firefighters or Engineers who are assigned, or may be assigned, to operate fire department apparatus during the normal course of their duties. Students will learn about their role as an emergency vehicle driver, proper care and maintenance of fire apparatus, vehicle characteristics, safe driving practices, emergency response driving, and scene positioning. This course, when combined with an AHJ-provided driving portion, allows the student to apply for Illinois OSFM certification. IFSI does not offer the driving portion of this course.
This course provides to those who are or will be operating as a member of a fire department, law enforcement agency, EMS agency, emergency management agency, or other first responder agency, the basic skills needed to evaluate and work defensively at an incident involving the release of hazardous materials. The objectives of the course are to teach participants: basic hazards and risk-assessment techniques for Hazmat and CBRNE environments; selecting and using proper personal protective equipment provided to the first responder at the Operations level; performing basic control, containment and/or confinement operations within the capabilities of the resources and personal protective equipment available; an understanding of the types of CBRNE and WMD events that may be presented to the first responder; and an understanding of the relevant standard operating guidelines and termination procedures. The course meets the requirements of NFPA 470, Hazardous Materials/Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD) Standard for Responders, 2022 Edition Chapters 7, 9.2, and 9.6.
The goal of this 80-hour course is to prepare responders to operate as a local member of a regional hazardous materials response team within the National Incident Management Systems (NIMS) at a CBRNE (Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear, or Explosive) event requiring a statewide response. The course provides the essential knowledge, skills, and abilities to operate offensively or defensively at an incident involving the release of hazardous materials. The objectives of the course are to teach participants: to classify, identify, and verify known and unknown material by using field survey instruments and equipment; to select and use the proper chemical protective equipment provided to the hazardous materials Technician; to understand hazard and risk assessment techniques for Hazmat and CBRNE environments; to be able to perform advanced control, containment, and/or confinement operations within the capabilities of the resources and personal protective equipment available; and to develop action plans within the parameters of the State plan for statewide response to WMD events.
Customized courses take any of the subject areas and are tailored to meet the needs of the organization requesting the training.The class emphasizes a topic identified by the group. Each class is handled on a case-by-case basis, covering a topic essential for firefighters, pump operators, fire officers, or fire based first responders in fulfilling the mission of the fire service in their area.
Students will learn to identify conditions requiring master streams at fires in buildings or emergencies which require protecting exposures with a required fire flow of 350 gpm or greater. The various nozzle types and their characteristics available at the class location are discussed at length with deployment and operation being the greatest focus of this “hands on class” The nozzle reaction, use of various devices or appliances and their required pressures, selecting the proper line sizes and safe handling and operating procedures round out the practical portion of this class.
Pipeline Emergencies – First Responder Awareness course provides those who are or will be responding to pipeline emergencies the basic skills necessary to determine the presence of pipelines and the release of various products being transported within. The objective of the course is to provide information for the student to conduct risk assessments, perform public safety actions, and make appropriate notifications to pipeline operators and response entities effectively and safely.
This Cornerstone version introduces students to the basics of Responder Intervention Team (RIT) operations and tactical and strategic operations related to downed firefighters. Discussion covers firefighter case studies, RIT tools, staging, RASP, size up, accountability, equipment demonstrations, victim extrication/disentanglement, and managing the "Mayday." Preventive or proactive methods of avoiding situations where fire fighters are trapped are highlighted. Practical reactive techniques or mitigation of a downed responder are demonstrated and practiced as a part of this "hands on" class. NOTE: Protective Clothing Required -- Participants must furnish approved helmet, turn out gear, eye protection, gloves, SCBA and boots for this class. This course is delivered at local fire departments
The Rope Rescue Technician course is an advanced, performance-based program that exceeds the job performance requirements of NFPA 1006: Standard for Technical Rescue Personnel Professional Qualifications (Technician Level). It builds upon the Rope Rescue Operations course and prepares students to safely and effectively manage and perform complex rope-based rescue incidents.
Participants engage in extensive hands-on training scenarios that challenge their ability to assess, plan, and execute technical rescues. Instruction emphasizes advanced rigging techniques, system analysis, high-directional and high-line operations, mechanical advantage systems, and vertical litter movement. Students will apply risk-management principles, use redundancy and safety factors in system design, and perform victim access, packaging, and movement through realistic and dynamic scenarios.
Throughout the course, students will work as part of a coordinated rope rescue team to demonstrate technical proficiency, leadership, and communication under operational conditions. The training reinforces IFSI’s core values of safety, teamwork, and operational excellence while ensuring compliance with NFPA 1006 JPRs.
This course awards Pro Board certification.
Students successfully completing this course will be eligible for ProBoard and IFSAC certification under NFPA 2400 Chapter 5, Professional Qualifications for sUAS Public Safety Personnel, which identifies the job performance requirements for public safety Remote Pilots and Visual Observers. Students will review Crew Resource Management, the roles of the Visual Observer, the Person Manipulating the Controls, and the Remote Pilot in Command. Students will learn the sUAS team’s role and function within the Incident Command System (ICS). Students will learn sUAS flight mission planning and prepare a mission plan for a given public safety scenario in a real-world setting. Students will prepare for and engage in practical flight operations, developing mission-critical neuromotor and communication skills.
NFPA 2400, Standard for Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems (sUAS) Used for Public Safety Operations, 2019 edition details the minimum requirements for the safe operation, deployment, and implementation of sUAS including organization program criteria and considerations, professional qualifications for safety personnel, and elements of a maintenance program. It was created with support from the National Institute for Standards and Technology (NIST) and the American National Standards Institute (ANSI).
NFPA 2400 is the primary reference for this course. Prerequisite: Registrants must be certificated by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) as a Remote Pilot with sUAS rating under 14 CFR Part 107. Registrants must be up-to-date with FAA recurrent knowledge requirements, and if certificated prior to March 2021, must have completed one of FAA’s new recurrent knowledge courses (ALC-515 or ALC-677, as applicable).
Students (or each team of up to three students) will need to bring their own small unmanned aircraft system in order to participate in this training. We recommend starting out with a basic and relatively small/inexpensive sUAS while first learning to fly.
If you are not a member of a Fire Department and wish to register for this course, you will need to contact IFSI class support at 217-333-3800 or email fsi@illinois.edu
This 1-16 hour course is designed for the firefighter with more than one year of experience; however, students of all experience levels are encouraged to attend. The material will give students a basic understanding of Thermal Imaging Cameras. Students will become familiar with the thermal imaging camera application and operations, including departmental SOGs for camera usage. The class includes how a thermal camera operates, situations where a camera can assist the firefighter, plus situations where a camera may not be reliable. The course can be tailored to your departments needs to include only a lecture/overview, or lecture with drills. NOTE: Protective Clothing Required -- Participants must furnish approved helmet, turn out gear, eye protection, gloves, SCBA and boots for this class if a live fire or smoke drill is arranged as a component. This course is delivered at local fire departments
The ventilation class includes the reasons for, and advantages and disadvantages of the different types of ventilation as they relate to building construction and procedures. Students will review fire behavior as it relates to building construction and its relationship with fuel load, occupancy type and its place in the list of tactical priorities. From jalousie to double hung, from gambrel to four – twelve pitch, the window types and roof styles have an affect on the ventilation operation. The recognition of signs and methods of preventing potential backdrafts and flashovers is an important part of the class. Advantages and disadvantages of vertical, horizontal and forced ventilation are discussed and practiced when possible at the local level.
This two-day course is based on the requirements of NFPA Standard 1030 pertaining to the Youth Firesetting Prevention and Intervention Specialist. This course empowers students with a broad understanding of the knowledge, skills, and abilities the Youth Firesetting Intervention Specialist should have for a dynamic intervention program. Topics include: The extent of the youth firesetting problem and justification for local youth firesetting prevention and intervention programs, examination of the typologies of firesetting and the motivation behind firesetting behaviors, identification, intake, screening, disposition, and follow-up, and youth firesetting educational interventions. This course is for the practitioner who provides services at the program delivery level.
This course is designed for firefighters who are assigned to or may be assigned to operate fire department pumper apparatus. Students will engage in an interactive instructional presentation that discusses basic fire pump operations and troubleshooting, then operate the pump panel simulators in pumping exercises. Students will practice pumping multiple hose lines and transitioning water supplies to support interactive fireground operations. Students will also discuss determining the proper discharge pressures for various hose layouts. While students are waiting to operate the pump panel simulators, they can view self-guided lessons including water supply, drafting, cavitation, nozzles, relay pumping, and pressure calculations.