The Advanced Fire Officer course is designed to provide the Fire Officer, at the supervisory/managerial level, who oversees multiple fire companies or stations, with information and skills required for success. The Advanced Fire Officer course is compliant with NFPA 1021 - Standard for Fire Officer Professional Qualifications as it provides training and education in the requisite areas of Human Resource Management, Community and Government Relations, Administration, Inspections and Investigations, Emergency Service Delivery, along with Health and Safety. This course satisfies the course completion component for Office of the State Fire Marshal Certification as Advanced Fire Officer.
This program is delivered via a blended learning concept utilizing traditional classroom and on-line teaching elements. Each Phase must be taken consecutively and attendance is mandatory.
Basic Operations Firefighter/NFPA Firefighter I
Module A Online: 70 Hours
Course Description:
The Basic Operations Firefighter Online Modules Course is designed to give new firefighters the cognitive training needed to operate safely and effectively on the fire ground. IFSI’s Basic Operations Firefighter Online Modules Course meets the requirements outlined by the Illinois Office of the State Fire Marshal for entry-level firefighter training. This course leverages the convenience of online learning while allowing local hands-on practice, promoting both skill competency and an understanding of the fire ground. Students complete numerous online activities that lay the foundation for in-person skill acquisition.
How the Course Works:
Online course content will be delivered each week. Students will be required to complete a series of activities for each lesson, which include a required reading assignment, a live online lecture, and a weekly quiz. Students should expect to spend approximately 10 hours each week on this course.
Module A Topics:
· The Fire Service
· Firefighter Health and Safety
· Personal Protective Equipment
· Fire Service Communications
· Fire Behavior
· Building Construction
· Firefighter Tools and Equipment
· Ropes and Knots
· Ladders
· Forcible Entry
Required Textbook (not provided):
Fundamentals of Firefighter Skills, 5th Edition, Jones and Bartlett Learning
Practical Skills:
Practical (hands-on) skill training is the responsibility of the firefighter’s sponsoring department. These skills are to be taught, practiced, and evaluated by an Illinois-certified Instructor I certified at the minimum level of Basic Operations Firefighter. Guidance on these skills and how they are to be completed and recorded can be found at:
Certification:
To obtain certification, a student must be engaged and rostered as an Illinois fire protection personnel, as attested by the employing fire chief. All exam scheduling for the Illinois Office of the State Marshal Basic Operations Firefighter certification will be coordinated and scheduled by the student’s Training Officer or Fire Chief through OSFM’s online portal. These exams will be scheduled through the Pearson Vue testing network. The student may choose to take the OSFM Module A and B exams separately after completing each module, or together after both modules are completed. No testing for state certification will be completed through IFSI.
Basic Operations Firefighter/NFPA Firefighter I
Module B Online: 70 Hours
Course Description:
The Basic Operations Firefighter Online Modules Course is designed to give new firefighters the cognitive training needed to operate safely and effectively on the fire ground. IFSI’s Basic Operations Firefighter Online Modules Course meets the requirements outlined by the Illinois Office of the State Fire Marshal for entry-level firefighter training. This course leverages the convenience of online learning while allowing local hands-on practice, promoting both skill competency and an understanding of the fire ground. Students complete numerous online activities that lay the foundation for in-person skill acquisition.
How the Course Works:
Online course content will be delivered each week. Students will be required to complete a series of activities for each lesson, which include a required reading assignment, a live online lecture, and a weekly quiz. Students should expect to spend approximately 10 hours each week on this course.
Module B Topics:
Required Textbook (Not provided):
Fundamentals of Firefighter Skills, 5th Edition, Jones and Bartlett Learning
Practical Skills:
Practical (hands-on) skill training is the responsibility of the firefighter’s sponsoring department. These skills are to be taught, practiced, and evaluated by an Illinois-certified Instructor I certified at the minimum level of Basic Operations Firefighter. Guidance on these skills and how they are to be completed and recorded can be found at:
Certification:
To obtain certification, a student must be engaged and rostered as an Illinois fire protection personnel, as attested by the employing fire chief. All exam scheduling for the Illinois Office of the State Marshal Basic Operations Firefighter certification will be coordinated and scheduled by the student’s Training Officer or Fire Chief through OSFM’s online portal. These exams will be scheduled through the Pearson Vue testing network. The student may choose to take the OSFM Module A and B exams separately after completing each module, or together after both modules are completed. No testing for state certification will be completed through IFSI.
Basic Operations Firefighter/NFPA Firefighter I
Module C Online: 20 Hours
Course Description:
The Basic Operations Firefighter Online Modules Course is designed to give new firefighters the cognitive training needed to operate safely and effectively on the fire ground. IFSI’s Basic Operations Firefighter Online Modules Course meets the requirements outlined by the Illinois Office of the State Fire Marshal for entry-level firefighter training. This course leverages the convenience of online learning while allowing local hands-on practice, promoting both skill competency and an understanding of the fire ground. Students complete numerous online activities that lay the foundation for in-person skill acquisition.
How the Course Works:
The Module C course operates differently from Modules A and B. IFSI offers Module C by combining several on-demand courses to meet the OSFM requirements. These courses are all conveniently provided in the Online Classes portion of the Student Resource Center. The student may complete these courses and upload the required certificates to the Module C classroom for review. Once all courses are complete and certificates are verified, the Program Manager will notify the student that they have met the requirements for Module C. All certifications earned through IFSI’s Module C course must be saved, printed, and documented in the student’s individual training file at their department. IFSI will not send certifications to the sponsoring fire department.
The content in Module C is required for OSFM BOF certification. Completing Module C with IFSI is not required for OSFM BOF certification. IFSI provides this module as a convenience for students. Any student may complete the courses required for Module C on their own outside IFSI.
Module C Topics:
First Aid/CPR:
The Illinois OSFM requires a CPR/Basic First Aid course for the completion of Module C. Due to the regional differences in medical systems, IFSI does not offer this course. It is the responsibility of the sponsoring fire department to provide and document the completion of this course in the student’s training record.
Certification:
There is no Illinois Office of the State Fire Marshal exam required for Module C.
All completion certificates earned through the courses provided in Module C shall be kept in the student’s training record at his/her sponsoring fire department.
This Cornerstone version introduces students to the basic engine company operations. The class offers firefighters and Officers an opportunity to either sharpen their current skills, or learn new and efficient skills for the all-important task of getting water on the fire. This course includes a classroom component and can be customized to include numerous drills. These can include hose loads, establishing water supply advancing lines through a variety of objectives including stairways, ground level and basement deployment if available are skills vital to the engine company. The course also covers engine company responsibilities with regard to rescue and other tactical priorities are presented and practiced.
The Common Passenger Vehicle Rescue course is designed to acquaint the student with techniques used in auto extrication. More specifically, the student will become familiar with the different classifications and characteristics of vehicles and machines. Students will also become familiar with the different tools used in extrication, stabilization of the vehicle/machine, disentanglement of the patient(s), and initiating patient care. The student will become familiar with initiating the Incident Command System and how to terminate the incident when finished. The majority of the course will be spent working on the various skills/techniques each student will learn during this course.
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 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 a Technician-level, Permit-required confined space rescue. The Confined Space Rescue Technician course has been designed in accordance with NFPA Standards. The class covers the federal and state regulations; use of specialized equipment for atmospheric monitoring, ventilation, and isolation; supplied air 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 partial-body patient immobilization, and the construction and operation of retrieval systems. This course includes simulated rescue evolutions requiring a mixture of disciplines, challenging the responder to deal with performing a rescue in a contaminated atmosphere.
This course is designed for students who are or may be responsible for driving emergency vehicles. Students will receive a brief instructional presentation, then participate in driving simulator exercises that will enhance the lessons learned. Students will develop their skills through repeated practice of techniques. Emergency response scenarios will reinforce the use of these techniques and real-time decision making to avoid crashes.
One module is covered per DRIVE session. Students will be placed into the appropriate module during their first session in the DRIVE simulator. Students are encouraged to follow the progression of the modules and track their progress using the DRIVE Progress Card.
This fast-paced EMT Basic course is delivered through a combination of in-person and hands-on sessions. It will prepare students to take the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians Basic exam and to obtain state licensure as an EMT-Basic. Upon completion of the course, passing the NREMT-B exam, applying for a state license, and registration with a local EMS system, successful students will have met the requirements to work as an entry-level EMT in an emergency response organization in Illinois.
This course is for First Responders/Firefighters only.
The class offers firefighters and Officers an opportunity to either sharpen their current skills or learn new and efficient skills for the all-important task of getting water on the fire. Students practice efficient hose loads and finishes for securing a water supply, whether rural or urban. Advancing lines through a variety of objectives including stairways, ladders, ground level and basement deployment, these are skills vital to the engine company. Students pull and deploy charged and uncharged hose lines in a variety of situations, both interior and exterior. Proper hose and nozzle selection for the size and type of fire are discussed. The engine company responsibilities with regard to rescue and other tactical priorities are presented and practiced.
This is a 28 hour course in residence, over 3 days, with a 4 hour online component to be completed prior to the student’s arrival at IFSI. Students need to bring NFPA compliant PPE and NFPA compliant SCBA, preferred two SCBA bottles.
Essentials III is the third installment in the Essentials Program. The Essentials Program is designed to introduce new and novice firefighters to essential skills in the fire service. Each level of the Essential Program, Levels I, II, and III will introduce firefighters to skills that will build upon one another as participants progress through the program.
The Essentials Program is designed to meet the requirements of NFPA 1403, the Standard on Live Fire Training Evolutions and parallels the Illinois Fire Service Institute’s Minimum Fire Fighter Training Guide. The scope of the Essentials Program is to prepare personnel for supporting the station and exterior firefighting operations.
The Essentials III course will immerse the firefighter in skills related to basic pump operations, fire suppression, portable extinguishers, ropes and knots, rescue and RIT procedures, and vehicle fires.
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 goal of this course is to give the student hands on experience with advanced firefighting methods such as Fire Ground Operations, SCBA’s, Ground Ladders, Search and Rescue, Ventilation, Water Supply, and Safety.
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.
The Firefighter II / NFPA 1010 - Advanced Technician Firefighter course exceeds all requirements outlined by the Illinois Office of the State Fire Marshal and NFPA 1010. This course provides the student with the knowledge and skills necessary to operate under general supervision during Firefighting operations. This course focuses on an intense hands-on approach to advanced firefighting skills. Students will experience advanced lectures to promote critical thinking, practical skills evaluations to promote competency, and live fire scenarios to promote teamwork and coordinated fire attack.
The Challenge Exam for NFPA Firefighter II is designed to give trained responders the opportunity to obtain national certification. Evaluations, including a written exam and multiple skill stations, will be conducted over one day. Upon successful completion of this objective process, national certification is awarded to the candidate, and the candidate’s name will be entered in both the IFSAC and ProBoard registries.
This five-day class is designed to help command officers gain the knowledge and practical skills required to effectively direct multiple companies at a fire. Classroom discussions of leadership, responsibilities, and tactics will be coupled with four days of demonstrations and hands-on practice of directing live-fire evolutions. Each student will take the role of a command officer. Afterwards, each evolution will be critiqued by their fellow students and instructors. First priority will be given to applicants who are in a Command Officer position on their department, officers who act in a Command role will be given second priority, and any other opening will be given to the remaining applicants on a first-come, first-served basis.
This class is designed to help company officers gain the knowledge and practical skills required to effectively lead a fire company. Classroom discussions of leadership, responsibilities, and tactics will be coupled with four days of demonstrations and hands-on practice of directing live-fire evolutions. Each student will take the role of a company officer. Afterwards, each evolution will be critiqued by their fellow students and instructors.
The scope of this 4-hour course is to begin to prepare local responders to operate as a local member of a regional team within the National Incident Management System at an event requiring local and/or statewide response that has resulted in the need for a technical rescue. This course is for the basic first-in company. It will provide first responders with the information needed to identify the rescue situation, its specific hazards, and the initial company operations that can be performed. Subject areas include: standards, structural collapse rescue, rope rescue, elevator rescue, confined space rescue, machinery rescue, water and ice rescue, trench and excavation rescue.
The First-In Chief course is designed for newly promoted chief officers, those interested in becoming a chief officer, or officers who may be responsible for completing the duties of an acting chief officer. Course topics will include size-up, tactical decision making, direction and control of personnel, and accountability. This class includes in-depth classroom discussion addressing the Five Positions of Command, followed by live fire training scenarios that support command officer development. This course will work parallel to the First-In Officer class but will provide advanced discussions on the command role.
Required Equipment: NFPA compliant personal protective equipment and SCBA.
The First-In Officer course is designed for newly promoted company officers, those interested in becoming a company officer, or firefighters who may be responsible for completing the duties of an acting officer. Course topics will include size-up, tactical decision making, direction and control of personnel, and accountability. This class includes in-depth classroom discussion followed by live fire training scenarios that support officer development and fireground management.
Required Equipment: NFPA compliant personal protective equipment and SCBA.
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.
This course provides training on and resources for overall incident management skills for personnel who require the intermediate application of the Incident Management System. This course will outline how the National Incident Management System Command & Coordination component supports the management of expanding incidents, as well as describe the incident management processes as prescribed by ICS.
The target audience for this course is individuals who may assume a supervisory role in expanding incidents. This includes Command and General Staff positions as well as Division/Group Supervisor and/or Unit Leader level positions that may be activated during an expanding incident that typically extends into multiple Operational Periods.
Building on the prerequisite courses, this course focuses on ICS for Command and General Staff in complex incidents. This advanced ICS 400 course focuses on senior personnel who are expected to perform in a management capacity in Area Command or Multiagency Coordination System, or as part of an Incident Management Team.
The target audience for this course includes experienced senior emergency management personnel who may perform in a management capacity for major or complex incidents. This group includes individuals who may serve as the Incident Commander, as a member of a Unified Command, or as members of the Command or General Staff, or Multiagency Coordination Group/Emergency Operations Center (EOC) management for incidents that may use an Area Command.
The Instructor I course is designed to give the student the knowledge and ability to teach from prepared materials which are predominantly skills oriented. Areas covered include issues relating to today’s Emergency Services Instructor, the learning process, methods of instruction, using lesson plans, communication skills, safety in training, technology in training, and evaluating the learning process.
The Instructor II course is designed to emphasize teaching formalized lessons from materials prepared by the instructor, including relating information from one lesson or class to the next. Areas covered include instructional development, evaluation and testing, program management and training resources.
The Instructor II course designed to place an emphasis on teaching formalized lessons from materials prepared by the instructor, including relating information from one lesson or class to the next. Coverage includes: writing performance objectives, developing lesson plans, preparing instructional materials, constructing evaluation devices, demonstrating selected teaching methods, completing training records and reports, and identifying reference resources.
Blended Course Delivery
Instructor II Online is a blended course in that all classroom materials will be delivered online through the IFSI Student and Staff Resource Center. Students will be provided instruction in 12 subjects under the direction of an instructor, to be completed in a 4 week time period.
Students are required to attend one practical session. Practical session will meet at the regional training facility assigned to the class. This could change to Regional Centers dependent on student registration requirements.
These practical / deliverables are required by the end of the course.
Students will be required to sit for the end of course examination. The examination will be administered during the week four practical day.
This course is designed to provide the knowledge and skills for successful certification in Instructor III. The Instructor III course satisfies the requirements of the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 1041, Chapter 6. It provides the tools necessary to obtain certification through the National Board on Fire Service Professional Qualifications (Pro) Board.
This course is designed around classroom lectures and group interactive exercises to improve your abilities to serve as a fire instructor. This includes Instructor III - specific responsibilities including the administration of AHJ policies and procedures for the management of instructional resources, staff, facilities, records, and reports. Skills taught include planning, developing, and implementing comprehensive programs and curricula. The successful candidate will be able to develop an evaluation plan; collect, analyze, and report data; and utilize data for program validation and student feedback.
If you are a Chief Officer who has the courage to embrace the challenge of personal and professional development at a whole new level, the Leadership Development and Decision Making (LDDM) Program is for you. The LDDM Program provides a one of a kind training experience. LDDM instructors introduce each topic with foundation material and then through a Socratic teaching style immerse the students in the topic through highly interactive small group discussions, ethical and moral discussion groups/decision games, tactical decision games, sand table exercises/discussions, and practical application exercises. Through the Socratic teaching style the instructor facilitates interaction and challenges each of the students to reach outside of their comfort zone through discovery learning, rather than the classic lecture and direction format.
The LDDM Program is designed to be a “cradle-to-grave” fire service leadership development/decision-making training and education continuum that has consistent themes, priorities, and lines of education in order to institutionalize the highest-quality leadership in the fire service. Training is provided for three standard fire service levels; firefighter, fire officer and chief officer. Each level within the LDDM Program is provided relevant opportunities for development, which are specific to their rank across seven common Lines of Education (LOE)
Lines of Education:
1) Leadership and followership
2) History and traditions
3) Communications
4) Morals and ethics
5) Professional development/tactics, techniques, and procedures (TTPs)
6) Decision-making and thinking critically
7) Command climate and culture
If you are willing to participate in a challenging training and development program the Leadership Development and Decision Making Program is for you.
If you are a Fire Officer (Lieutenant or Captain) who has the courage to embrace the challenge of personal and professional development at a whole new level, the Leadership Development and Decision Making (LDDM) Program is for you. The LDDM Program provides a one of a kind training experience. LDDM instructors introduce each topic with foundation material and then through a Socratic teaching style immerse the students in the topic through highly interactive small group discussions, ethical and moral discussion groups/decision games, tactical decision games, sand table exercises/discussions, and practical application exercises. Through the Socratic teaching style the instructor facilitates interaction and challenges each of the students to reach outside of their comfort zone through discovery learning, rather than the classic lecture and direction format.
The LDDM Program is designed to be a “cradle-to-grave” fire service leadership development/decision-making training and education continuum that has consistent themes, priorities, and lines of education in order to institutionalize the highest-quality leadership in the fire service. Training is provided for three standard fire service levels; firefighter, fire officer and chief officer. Each level within the LDDM Program is provided relevant opportunities for development, which are specific to their rank across seven common Lines of Education (LOE)
Lines of Education:
1) Leadership and followership
2) History and traditions
3) Communications
4) Morals and ethics
5) Professional development/tactics, techniques, and procedures (TTPs)
6) Decision-making and thinking critically
7) Command climate and culture
If you are willing to participate in a challenging training and development program the Leadership Development and Decision Making Program is for you.
If you are a Firefighter who has the courage to embrace the challenge of personal and professional development at a whole new level, the Leadership Development and Decision Making (LDDM) Program is for you. The LDDM Program provides a one of a kind training experience. LDDM instructors introduce each topic with foundation material and then through a Socratic teaching style immerse the students in the topic through highly interactive small group discussions, ethical and moral discussion groups/decision games, tactical decision games, sand table exercises/discussions, and practical application exercises. Through the Socratic teaching style the instructor facilitates interaction and challenges each of the students to reach outside of their comfort zone through discovery learning, rather than the classic lecture and direction format.
The LDDM Program is designed to be a “cradle-to-grave” fire service leadership development/decision-making training and education continuum that has consistent themes, priorities, and lines of education in order to institutionalize the highest-quality leadership in the fire service. Training is provided for three standard fire service levels; firefighter, fire officer and chief officer. Each level within the LDDM Program is provided relevant opportunities for development, which are specific to their rank across seven common Lines of Education (LOE).
Lines of Education:
1) Leadership and followership
2) History and traditions
3) Communications
4) Morals and ethics
5) Professional development/tactics, techniques, and procedures (TTPs)
6) Decision-making and thinking critically
7) Command climate and culture
If you are willing to participate in a challenging training and development program the Leadership Development and Decision Making Program is for you.
This class delivers fundamental training in increments convenient to meet the needs of individual department members. Hands-on live fire training is set up in several different scenarios for all firefighters and their experience level. During the training rotations students will train on basic SCBA, hose handling and movement, ladder raises, carries, climbing, tool handling, and proper tool selection for the assigned task. Additionally, the coordinated drills will offer students an opportunity to work as a member of a fire suppression team, and introduce very basic RIT and Saving Our Own concepts. Minimum participation restrictions shall apply. NOTE: Protective Clothing Required -- Participants must furnish approved helmet, turn out gear, eye protection, gloves, SCBA and boots for this class.
You MUST be pre-registered to be admitted to the training. No walk-ins allowed. Persons not on the Class Roster will not be admitted.
This four-hour class is designed for firefighters up to chief officers. The class will cover renewable energy sources, focus on their use, and how we store the energy that each create. This program will get into hydropower, hydrogen, biomass, geothermal, wind, and solar. We have added battery energy storage systems to help understand and prepare better for responses related to a household unit or commercial facility.
This course runs in conjunction with Responder Intervention Team Rescue Technician and provides firefighters with the necessary advanced skills to effectively operate as command of a responder intervention team. Responder Intervention Team Chief combines classroom lecture, firefighter fatality case studies, command drills, and hands-on scenario-based training involving a firefighter MAYDAY. Skills are practiced and honed under live fire conditions that will challenge each student mentally and physically. This course goes beyond any traditional class by experiencing command operations in the fire suppression environment, preparing the officer for our worst-case scenario.
Formally Rit under Fire, this course provides firefighters with the necessary advance skills to effectively operate as a member of a responder intervention team. Responder Intervention Team Rescue Technician combines classroom lecture, firefighter fatality case studies, drag and carries, breaching, heavy lifting with hydraulic and pneumatic tools, cutting utilizing a variety of torches, and hands-on scenario based training involving a firefighter mayday. Skills are practiced and honed under live fire conditions that will challenge each student mental and physically. This course goes beyond any traditional class by utilizing rescue tools and techniques in the fire suppression environment. This physically intense course meets and exceeds NFPA 1407, preparing the responder for our worst-case scenario.
The Rope Rescue Awareness and Operations course provides students with the basic knowledge and practical skills required to perform safe and efficient rope-based rescues at the Awareness and Operations levels, as outlined in NFPA 1006: Standard for Technical Rescue Personnel Professional Qualifications.
This course introduces students to the principles of rope rescue, including tying knots, creating anchor systems, mechanical advantage haul systems, belay operations, and low and high -angle victim movement. Emphasis is placed on safety, team coordination, and system integrity during simulated rescue evolutions.
Upon successful completion, participants will be able to recognize rope rescue hazards, identify necessary equipment, establish basic rope systems, and perform Operations-level rescues under supervision.
This course awards Pro Board and Illinois OSFM certification.
Each day firefighters respond to so called “Routine Emergencies”. As we all know, these are truly not routine emergencies. In fact, many firefighter injuries and fatalities occur at so called routine emergencies. We all know that a large percentage of firefighters are volunteer and paid-on call. Departments are experiencing member turnover at an ever increasing rate. That said, new firefighters are being asked to respond and in many cases act as officers making decisions what will affect the well-being of their company. This training program has been created to present short segments that identify considerations that firefighters encounter at Routine Emergencies. The intent of the program is to engage firefighters in dialog so they can identify the best practices for handling different emergencies.
This 24 hour course is designed for students who may be involved in conducting primary and secondary searches of single family, multi-family, and commercial structures. This class focuses on the primary search, secondary search and final searches. Not only in residential buildings but, multi-family and commercial setting as well and goes further to include Vent Enter Search (VES), Rope Assisted Search Procedures (RASP) and Wide Area Search. Students also spend time learning and practicing the critical component of victim removal procedures. Each student is encouraged to develop and refine this skill set that will prove invaluable for the rest of their career.
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
Smoke Divers is a 24-hour class where the student will walk away with increased confidence and knowledge of their SCBA. Firefighters will benefit from the course as they will become more aware of how the SCBA can perform and function through various drills that require donning, doffing, shifting, and dumping. Smoke and live fire scenarios challenge the student further by integrating the fireground tasks of forcible entry, rescue, search, and RIT basics. All of these basic to advanced skills build upon the student's abilities with their SCBA in order to give them the tools necessary for air management and self-rescue if the need arises.
The scope of this course is to prepare responders to operate as local members of a regional team within the National Incident Management System (NIMS) at an emergency incident requiring statewide response that has resulted in the failure of a building constructed of wood, masonry, or pre-fabricated light metal materials. This course is extensively hands-on and prepares the student to operate safely and efficiently at a building collapse. It offers practice in cutting, breaching, lifting, stabilizing, searching, shoring, packaging, and removing victims from a simulated collapse environment. This course is intense and physically demanding, but the competence and confidence that is gained is worth the sweat that is lost.
The scope of this course is to prepare responders to operate as a local member of a regional team within the NIMS at an emergency incident requiring statewide response that has resulted in the failure of a building constructed of steel, concrete, or masonry. This course is extensively hands-on and prepares the student to operate safely and efficiently at a building collapse. It offers practice in cutting, breaching, lifting, stabilizing, searching, shoring, packaging, and removing victims from a simulated collapse environment. This course is intense and physically demanding, but the competence and confidence that is gained is worth the sweat that is lost.
This 3 day program is designed for firefighters seeking to improve their knowledge of truck company operations regardless if their department has an aerial apparatus. This course is ideal for firefighters assigned to a truck company.
Firefighters will learn the fundamental concepts of truck company operations, apparatus positioning, forcible entry, ground laddering considerations, VES, search strategies and tactics, victim removal procedures, ventilation, and overhaul operations. This course is intended for experienced firefighters with a minimum of three (3) years with a fire department.