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
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 Active Shooter Incident Management (ASIM) Basic course is an 8-hour performance-level training designed to improve incident management and coordination among law enforcement, emergency management, and fire and EMS responders during active shooter events. The course provides a validated framework for school personnel, law enforcement, fire, and EMS to effectively manage violent event responses, with a specific emphasis on minimizing response time, providing timely medical intervention, and enhancing victim survivability.
Association:
If you are affiliated with an emergency responder organization such as a fire, police, EMS, or EMA agency, it is mandatory to enroll in BOTH the Active Shooter Incident Management (ASIM) and the School Safety and Violent Event Incident Management (SSAVEIM) courses. Attending both courses will ensure comprehensive training for your profession.
If a school system employs you, please enroll in the School Safety and Violent Event Incident Management (SSAVEIM) course ONLY. This course is specifically tailored to equip school personnel with the necessary knowledge and skills to manage violent events in schools and reunify children with the appropriate guardians. The ASIM program is not suitable for your specific profession. However, the SSAVEIM program will provide you with a brief introduction to the relevant concepts.
Focus:
The course emphasizes incident management principles, including command, coordination, communication, collaboration, and resource management, essential for effectively managing active shooter incidents.
Important Note:
To ensure a balanced representation of first responder disciplines, we do not publicly list classes on our website. Instead, class scheduling and registration are closely coordinated with the local jurisdiction that requests the training.
Please contact Dave Saitta, our NIMS/ICS Program Manager, to set up a class in your jurisdiction.
This five-day course provides students with a solid foundation of the activities; processes; leadership elements; and the knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSAs) necessary to function within the framework of a Type 3 All-Hazards Incident Management Team (AHIMT) deployed to an incident or planned event. The course is considered fast-paced, highly interactive, and challenging as the students, formed into the Command and General Staff positions on a Type 3 AHIMT, navigate through multiple activities and rapidly expanding incident scenarios. The course includes a comprehensive review of the roles and responsibilities of each of the Incident Command System (ICS) Command and General Staff positions, their roles as leaders of their sections or functional areas, leadership and teambuilding, and decision-making under stress.
This course will assist individual responders to perform as viable team members by:
Learning the basic foundational knowledge, skills and, abilities (KSAs)
necessary to perform in an ICS position on a Type 3 AHIMT. Emphasizing the nature and purpose of a Type 3 AHIMT so that others in the community and emergency services are more willing and able to assist or participate on their local Type 3 AHIMT.
Demonstrating the critical role that leadership and teamwork skills play in the success of a Type 3 AHIMT.
Providing a basic framework for building and maintaining critical
interpersonal communications and for working together as a team member of a Type 3 AHIMT.
Operationalizing the components of the National Incident Management
System (NIMS) and National Response Framework (NRF) for use in the field.
Offering practical experience of on-scene operations through extensive
exercises and simulations that provide students with multiple opportunities to perform as members of a Type 3 AHIMT during simulated incidents.
The goal of this professional development course, E/L 0984 Task Force/Strike (Resource) Team Leader, is to provide training designed to support all-hazards competencies and behaviors for a Task Force/Strike (Resource) Team Leader within a Type III Incident Management Team (IMT).
Before the 9/11 attacks, ICS training was exercised nearly exclusively on fire-based incidents. Recognizing the applicability and sincere need for NIMS principles across incident response disciplines, an “all-hazards” approach to training will be embraced in this course.
With an “all-hazards” approach, this course will focus on how a Task Force/Strike (Resource) Team (TF/ST) Leader needs to fundamentally possess the same core knowledge, skills, and abilities whether they are responding to a fire, an oil spill, a mass-casualty incident, or another incident. In other words, regardless of the hazard, discipline, or incident, the essential job of a TF/ST Leader is the same.
This course uses lecture, discussion, student participation, and activities to focus on understanding the behaviors, duties, responsibilities, and capabilities of an effective TF/ST Leader on a Type III AHIMT.
The intended audience(s) are local- or state-level emergency responders who may be designated as Task Force/Strike (Resource) Team Leaders on their local or state Incident Management Team (IMT). The materials were developed with the assumption that audience members may have little or no actual experience as a member of an AHIMT.
The audience may include students from a variety of agencies and functional disciplines, including fire service, law enforcement, emergency management, public works departments, as well as public health organizations, medical emergency teams, and hospitals.
National Incident Management System (NIMS) Incident Command System (ICS) position-specific training should be completed by personnel who are regularly assigned to function, support, or unit leader positions on USFA or other Type III or IV AHIMT or by those persons who desire to seek credentials/certification in those positions.
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 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 scope of this 2-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.
This course is designed to train individuals who respond to releases or potential releases of hazardous substances for the purpose of stopping the release. They assume a more aggressive role than a first responder at the operations level in that they will approach the point of the release in order to plug, patch, or otherwise stop the release of the hazardous substance. The course covers: implementation of the employer’s emergency response plan, classification and identification of unknown materials using field survey instruments, functioning within the Incident Command System, selection and use of specialized chemical protective equipment, hazard and risk assessment techniques, performing advanced product control operations, implementation of decontamination procedures, understanding proper termination procedures, and understanding basic chemical and toxicological terminology. This course meets or exceeds the requirements of OSHA 29 CFR 1910.120(q) for Hazardous Materials Technician Training. It is intended for industrial and private response teams, who in their normal course of duty would be responsible for responding to a release of a known product. This course does not meet all of the requirements of NFPA 472 and thus is not intended for public safety agencies (ie. fire, police, military, etc).
This course provides to those who are or will be operating
as a member of a hospital decontamination team, the basic skills needed to safely and effectively decontaminate individuals who arrive at the hospital after being contaminated with a hazardous material. The objectives of the course are to teach participants: basic hazards and risk-assessment techniques for Hazmat and Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear, and Explosives (CBRNE) environments; selecting and using proper personal protective equipment provided to the first receiver; an understanding of the types of CBRNE and weapon of mass destruction (WMD) events that may be presented to the first responder; implementation of basic decontamination procedures relevant to the hospital setting; and an understanding of standard operating guidelines and termination procedures.
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.
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 course runs in conjunction with RIT Under Fire and provides firefighters with the necessary advanced skills to effectively operate as command of a responder intervention team.
RIT 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.
PLEASE NOTE:
RIT Chief Under Fire is offered December 15-18, 2025 and will be a 40-hour class delivery.
Illinois students should register for the Responder Intervention Team (RIT) Chief course.
RIT Under Fire provides firefighters with the necessary advanced skills to operate effectively as a member of a responder intervention team. The course includes classroom lectures, firefighter fatality case studies, drag and carries, breaching, heavy lifting with hydraulic and pneumatic tools, and hands-on scenario-based training involving a firefighter mayday. All skills are practiced under live-fire conditions under the direction of a seasoned instructional team.
IFSI has adapted the traditional five-day delivery of RIT Technician to meet the travel needs of out of state students. The learning objectives and course intensity are the same in both courses. Attendees should plan for four-days of immersive training experiences that will challenge each student mentally and physically.
PLEASE NOTE:
RIT Under Fire is offered December 15-18, 2025 and will be a 40-hour class delivery.
Illinois students should register for the Responder Intervention Rescue Technician course.
The scope of this course is to prepare responders to operate as a member of a team within NIMS at an event requiring the need for low- or high-angle rescue. This course provides personnel with the basic knowledge and skills needed to perform rescues using rope systems. The class will cover the use of rope, rope equipment, hardware, construction of mechanical advantage systems, belay and safety systems, twin-tension lowering systems, anchor systems, patient packaging and care, transport, self-rescue, and rescue litter handling techniques. In addition, course topics include equipment selection, maintenance, and record-keeping.
This course was adapted from the NFPA 1006 standards with information also derived from 1500, 1670, 1858, 1983, and 2500. This course awards Pro Board and Illinois OSFM certification.
The scope of this course is to prepare local responders to operate as a local member of a regional team within the NIMS at a CBRNE (Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear, or Explosive) WMD Event requiring statewide response that has resulted in the need for a high-angle rescue. This course provides those personnel with the basic knowledge and skills needed to perform rescues using rope systems. The class will cover the use of rope, rope equipment, hardware, construction of mechanical advantage systems, belay and safety systems, anchor systems, and patient packaging. Special consideration will be given to the policies of standard-making agencies such as OSHA, ANSI, NFPA, and others. This course awards Pro Board certification.
The Advanced Active Shooter Incident Management (ASIM) course is a 24-hour performance-level course designed to improve incident management and integration of law enforcement, fire, and EMS responders to active shooter events. The course provides a model framework for use by law enforcement, fire and EMS command staff to manage active shooter event response to improve time to threat neutralization, medical intervention, and survivability of victims. The framework utilizes the Active Shooter Incident Management Checklist™, a validated active shooter event response checklist integrating best practices guided by National Incident Management System (NIMS) principles and Tactical Emergency Casualty Care (TECC). Enrollment is limited to command-level (decision-makers) personnel.
Focus:
The course emphasizes incident management principles, including command, coordination, communication, collaboration, and resource management, essential for effectively managing active shooter incidents.
Important Note:
To ensure a balanced representation of first responder disciplines, we do not publicly list classes on our website. Instead, class scheduling and registration are closely coordinated with the local jurisdiction that requests the training.
Please contact Dave Saitta, our NIMS/ICS Program Manager, to set up a class in your jurisdiction.
This class is designed to continue where the Basic Auto Extrication course left off. Knowledge of common techniques and tools is a prerequisite. The course will involve hands-on practical training involving various scenarios and address scene safety, evaluation and management. Hands-on experience using various methods to stabilize vehicles on their side, upside down, and on other vehicles or barriers is necessary. Operations will involve laying down, crouching, or crawling in vehicles. Includes challenging scenarios where all members of the team must be working to keep from pushing out of the golden hour. Participants must furnish approved helmet, fire boots or leather safety boots, eye protection, gloves, coveralls or turnout gear for class. If conducted off-site, is the responsibility of the host department to provide vehicles and means for positioning them.
Before the 9/11 attacks, ICS training was exercised nearly exclusively on fire-based incidents. Recognizing the applicability and sincere need for NIMS principles across incident response disciplines, an “all-hazards” approach to training will be embraced in this course.
With an “all-hazards” approach, this course will focus on how a Facilities Unit Leader (FACL) needs to fundamentally possess the same core knowledge, skills, and abilities whether they are responding to a fire, an oil spill, a mass-casualty incident, or another incident. In other words, regardless of the hazard, discipline, or incident, the essential job of a FACL is the same.
This course uses lecture, discussion, student participation, and activities to focus on understanding the behaviors, duties, responsibilities, and capabilities of an effective FACL on a Type 3 AHIMT.
The intended audience(s) Federal, state, tribal, and/or local level emergency responders who may be designated as a Facilities Unit Leaders (FACL) on their local or state Incident Management Team. The materials were developed with the assumption that audience members may have little or no actual experience as a member of an AHIMT.
The audience may include students from a variety of agencies and functional disciplines, including fire service, law enforcement, emergency management, public works departments, as well as public health organizations, medical emergency teams, and hospitals.
NIMS ICS specific training should be completed by personnel who are regularly assigned to function, support, or unit leader positions on Type III or IV Incident Management Teams or by those persons who desire to seek credentials/certification in those positions.
Before the 9/11 attacks, Incident Command System (ICS) training was exercised nearly exclusively on fire-based incidents. Recognizing the applicability and sincere need for National Incident Management System (NIMS) principles across incident response disciplines, an “all-hazards” approach to training will be embraced in this course.
With an “all-hazards” approach, this course will focus on how a Finance/Administration Section Chief (FSC) needs to fundamentally possess the same core knowledge, skills, and abilities whether they are responding to a fire, an oil spill, a mass-casualty incident, or another incident. In other words, regardless of the hazard, discipline, or incident, the essential job of an FSC is the same.
This course uses lecture, discussion, student participation, and activities to focus on understanding the behaviors, duties, responsibilities, and capabilities of an effective FSC on a Type III All Hazards Incident Management Team (AHIMT).
The intended audience(s) are federal, state, tribal, and/or local level emergency responders who may be designated as a Finance/Administration on their local or state Incident Management Team (IMT). The materials were developed with the assumption that audience members may have little or no actual experience as a member of an AHIMT.
The audience may include students from a variety of agencies and functional disciplines, including fire service, law enforcement, emergency management, public works departments, as well as public health organizations, medical emergency teams, and hospitals.
NIMS ICS specific training should be completed by personnel who are regularly required assigned to function under the Incident Command System (ICS), by personnel who may be called upon to function in a Command, Staff, or Unit Leader position on a Type III or IV AHIMT, or by those persons who desire to seek credentials/certification in those positions.
Before the 9/11 attacks, Incident Command System training was exercised nearly exclusively on fire-based incidents. Recognizing the applicability and sincere need for National Incident Management System principles across incident response disciplines, an “all-hazards” approach to training will be embraced in this course.
With an “all-hazards” approach, this course will focus on how a Liaison Officer (LOFR) needs to fundamentally possess the same core knowledge, skills, and abilities whether they are responding to a fire, an oil spill, a mass-casualty incident, or another incident. In other words, regardless of the hazard, discipline, or incident, the essential job of a Safety Officer is the same.
This course uses lecture, discussion, student participation, and activities to focus on understanding the behaviors, duties, responsibilities, and capabilities of an effective Liaison Officer (LOFR) on a Type 3 All Hazards Incident Management Team (AHIMT).
The intended audience(s) Federal, state, tribal, and/or local level emergency responders who may be designated as a Liaison Officer on their local or state Incident Management Team. The materials were developed with the assumption that audience members may have little or no actual experience as a member of an AHIMT.
The audience may include students from a variety of agencies and functional disciplines, including fire service, law enforcement, emergency management, public works departments, as well as public health organizations, medical emergency teams, and hospitals.
National Incident Management System (NIMS) Incident Command System (ICS) specific training should be completed by personnel who are regularly assigned to function on a Type 3 AHIMT or by those persons who desire to seek credentials/certification in those positions.
Before the 9/11 attacks, ICS training was exercised nearly exclusively on fire-based incidents. Recognizing the applicability and sincere need for NIMS principles across incident response disciplines, an “all-hazards” approach to training will be embraced in this course.
With an “all-hazards” approach, this course will focus on how a Logistics Section Chief (LSC) needs to fundamentally possess the same core knowledge, skills, and abilities whether they are responding to a fire, an oil spill, a mass-casualty incident, or another incident. In other words, regardless of the hazard, discipline, or incident, the essential job of an LSC is the same.
This course uses lecture, discussion, student participation, and activities to focus on understanding the behaviors, duties, responsibilities, and capabilities of an effective LSC on a Type 3 All-Hazards Incident Management Team (AHIMT).
The intended audience(s) Federal, state, tribal, and/or local level emergency responders who may be designated as an LSC on their local or state Incident Management Team (IMT). The materials were developed with the assumption that audience members may have little or no actual experience as a member of an AHIMT.
The audience may include students from a variety of agencies and functional disciplines, including fire service, law enforcement, emergency management, public works departments, as well as public health organizations, medical emergency teams, and hospitals.
NIMS ICS specific training should be completed by personnel who are regularly assigned to function on a Type 3 AHIMT or by those persons who desire to seek credentials/certification in those positions.
This course addresses the responsibilities of an Operations Section Chief to ensure the maintenance of continuity and safety of on-site responders and the public. The course will allow students to hone their preexisting skillsets in communication and staff functions for a local Incident Management Team (IMT). Lecture-discussion, quizzes, multiple hands-on activities have been designed to enable students to learn, practice, and demonstrate their knowledge of the course material. Activity logs, check-in lists, Position Task Books, and breakout sessions, have been created and/or inherited to the course in order to provide learners with various methods of learning that will enhance their understanding of the roles and functions of an Operations Section Chief
Before the 9/11 attacks, ICS training was exercised nearly exclusively on fire-based incidents. Recognizing the applicability and sincere need for NIMS principles across incident response disciplines, an “all-hazards” approach to training will be embraced in this course.
With an “all-hazards” approach, this course will focus on how a Safety Officer (SOFR) needs to fundamentally possess the same core knowledge, skills, and abilities whether they are responding to a fire, an oil spill, a mass-casualty incident, or another incident. In other words, regardless of the hazard, discipline, or incident, the essential job of a Safety Officer is the same.
This course uses lecture, discussion, student participation, and activities to focus on understanding the behaviors, duties, responsibilities, and capabilities of an effective Safety Officer on a Type 3 All Hazards Incident Management Team (AHIMT).
The intended audience(s) Federal, state, tribal, and/or local level emergency responders who may be designated as a Safety Officer on their local or state Incident Management Team. The materials were developed with the assumption that audience members may have little or no actual experience as a member of an AHIMT.
The audience may include students from a variety of agencies and functional disciplines, including fire service, law enforcement, emergency management, public works departments, as well as public health organizations, medical emergency teams, and hospitals.
National Incident Management System (NIMS) Incident Command System (ICS) specific training should be completed by personnel who are regularly assigned to function on a Type III AHIMT or by those persons who desire to seek credentials/certification in those positions.
This course is designed to provide Firefighters with a basic understanding of the design, operation, and deployment of aerial apparatus. Students will be introduced to the various types of aerial apparatus and aerial devices that are used in the fire service, safe procedures for stabilization, aerial device operation, and the tactical deployment of aerial devices. Students will participate in drills to reinforce the concepts discussed in the classroom.
Because departments have significantly different equipment, maintenance practices, and training needs, the lead instructor shall use their discretion to determine the appropriate course materials and drills for the class delivery based on the equipment available and the department needs.
This course provides basics hands-on training for fire and rescue personnel in size-up, stabilization, hazard control, patient access, disentanglement and scene control techniques at automobile accidents involving one or two vehicles remaining on their wheels. Emphasis is placed on proper choice, placement and use of equipment available locally. From hand tools such as bars and hack saws, to electric tools such as nibblers and recip saws, to air powered tools like air chisels and impact wrenches, to heavy hydraulic tools – all are employed depending on local capabilities. Arrangements may be made for larger division or county classes to provide a cache of tools for the class. The vehicles used for class are provided by and disposed of by the local fire department. NOTE: Protective Clothing Required -- Participants must furnish approved helmet, fire boots or leather safety boots, eye protection, gloves, coveralls or turnout gear for class. Vehicles for actual extrication exercises must be supplied locally.
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 Illinois Fire Service Institute (IFSI) Firefighter Basic Online program is delivered in the modular form as prescribed by the Office of the State Fire Marshal, and meets the cognitive requirements for Firefighter Basic certification.
The practical requirements are the responsibility of the student, under the direction of their own fire department. A student practical package will be provided to guide and document student performance.
The Online Firefighter Basic Course consists of 23 subject areas (plus Haz Mat Awareness & Tech Rescue Awareness) delivered from the IFSI Online Classroom. The online classroom provides an overview of each subject, defines learning objectives, outline reading assignments, audio lectures, chat sessions, student assignments, and electronic quizzes. Students should be familiar with the use of the computer and have access to the Internet to complete this course.
The final exam will be administered through the Office of the State Fire Marshal (OSFM).
Module subjects are as follows:
Module A: Orientation/Organization - Safety - Communications - Building Construction - Fire Behavior-SCBA - Portable Extinguishers - Ropes and Knots
Module B: Fire Ground Search & Rescue - Fire Hose/Appliances - Firefighter Survival - Ventilation - Forcible Entry - Water Supply Ladders - Nozzles and Streams - Apparatus Familiarization - Fire Control/Suppression - Wildland Firefighting
Module C: Loss Control - Preserving Evidence - Fire Detection/Alarms - Fire Prevention/Public Education - Hazardous Materials Awareness – Technical Rescue Awareness.
Modules are intended to be taken in order. An exception may be given by the Firefighting Program Director or Distance Learning Program Director.
***Students will need IFSTA Essentials of Firefighting 7th Edition
The Illinois Fire Service Institute (IFSI) Firefighter Basic Online program is delivered in the modular form as prescribed by the Office of the State Fire Marshal, and meets the cognitive requirements for Firefighter Basic certification.
The practical requirements are the responsibility of the student, under the direction of their own fire department. A student practical package will be provided to guide and document student performance.
The Online Firefighter Basic Course consists of 23 subject areas (plus Haz Mat Awareness & Tech Rescue Awareness) delivered from the IFSI Online Classroom. The online classroom provides an overview of each subject, defines learning objectives, outline reading assignments, audio lectures, chat sessions, student assignments, and electronic quizzes. Students should be familiar with the use of the computer and have access to the Internet to complete this course.
The final exam will be administered through the Office of the State Fire Marshal (OSFM).
Module subjects are as follows:
Module A: Orientation/Organization - Safety - Communications - Building Construction - Fire Behavior-SCBA - Portable Extinguishers - Ropes and Knots
Module B: Fire Ground Search & Rescue - Fire Hose/Appliances - Firefighter Survival - Ventilation - Forcible Entry - Water Supply Ladders - Nozzles and Streams - Apparatus Familiarization - Fire Control/Suppression - Wildland Firefighting
Module C: Loss Control - Preserving Evidence - Fire Detection/Alarms - Fire Prevention/Public Education - Hazardous Materials Awareness – Technical Rescue Awareness.
Modules are intended to be taken in order. An exception may be given by the Firefighting Program Director or Distance Learning Program Director.
***Students will need IFSTA Essentials of Firefighting 7th Edition
The Illinois Fire Service Institute (IFSI) Firefighter Basic Online program is delivered in the modular form as prescribed by the Office of the State Fire Marshal, and meets the cognitive requirements for Firefighter Basic certification.
The practical requirements are the responsibility of the student, under the direction of their own fire department. A student practical package will be provided to guide and document student performance.
The Online Firefighter Basic Course consists of 23 subject areas (plus Haz Mat Awareness & Tech Rescue Awareness) delivered from the IFSI Online Classroom. The online classroom provides an overview of each subject, defines learning objectives, outline reading assignments, audio lectures, chat sessions, student assignments, and electronic quizzes. Students should be familiar with the use of the computer and have access to the Internet to complete this course.
The final exam will be administered through the Office of the State Fire Marshal (OSFM).
Module subjects are as follows:
Module A: Orientation/Organization - Safety - Communications - Building Construction - Fire Behavior-SCBA - Portable Extinguishers - Ropes and Knots
Module B: Fire Ground Search & Rescue - Fire Hose/Appliances - Firefighter Survival - Ventilation - Forcible Entry - Water Supply Ladders - Nozzles and Streams - Apparatus Familiarization - Fire Control/Suppression - Wildland Firefighting
Module C: Loss Control - Preserving Evidence - Fire Detection/Alarms - Fire Prevention/Public Education - Hazardous Materials Awareness – Technical Rescue Awareness.
Modules are intended to be taken in order. An exception may be given by the Firefighting Program Director or Distance Learning Program Director.
***Students will need IFSTA Essentials of Firefighting 7th Edition
The Basic Tactics & Strategy course is designed for the new firefighter who is responsible for learning about making decisions on the fire ground. Size up and a plan of action based upon conditions will be reviewed. Subject areas which will be covered are: initial action plans, safety, fire behavior, building construction, engine company and truck company operations, and
apparatus positioning.
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 to provide a general understanding of autism and the key processes necessary to work with children and adults on the autism spectrum. Autism awareness helps explain and identify the signs of autism and understand how to support someone with autism in an emergency setting. Autism Awareness is designed for first responders and provides assessment techniques, proven intervention strategies, and best practices.
IFSI EMS Continuing Education provides the platform for "self paced" learning. The intent of "on demand" programming is to deliver quality education to the various pre-hospital emergency medical professionals levels at their pace. The program is designed to be easily accessible as well as a long-term resource for organizations. Our platform allows organizations and individuals to receive the finest online training available and keep it into their daily routine.
Course Objectives:
• Describe stroke risk factors and disease process
• Describe stroke symptoms and common stroke mimics
• Describe first responder/emergency medical services: clinical assessments for acute stroke
• Describe first responder/emergency medical services: interventions for acute stroke
This one-day "Down and Dirty" Fire Service Youth training activity introduces youth to hands-on firefighting skills. Delivered with IFSI instructor supervision, the class focuses on the same basic firefighting skills that are provided in the IFSI Cornerstone Training program, including hose and appliances, Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus (SCBA), Fire Behavior, Search and Rescue, Ladders, and using hand tools. The Explorers and Fire Cadets will be exposed to the value of teamwork, leadership, and followership.
This course is designed for emergency first responders. First responders are those who respond in the event of a 911 emergency response. The scope of this course is to educate students about grain storage facility types, their construction, and operating features. OSHA regulations, physical-environmental hazards and potential rescue resources are identified to ensure the response falls within the requirements minimizing fire department civil or criminal liability. Scene management and safety are discussed in conjunction with locating, securing, packaging, and moving the victim. Improvised mechanical advantage systems, high point anchors, and retrieval systems will be demonstrated. The class also covers safe patient assessment, stabilization, protection and packaging, plus removal as a part of rescue simulations. Various cutting tools are used in a simulated rescue to assist in the removal of grain from the system. Upon completion of this class the student will possess the ability to function as a member of a rescue team conducting rescue and entry operations at a grain storage facility. Note: this course is specifically designed and targeted only for entry into grain bins. Training and entry into other confined spaces are covered in other courses.
The scope of this course is to prepare local responders to operate as a local member of a regional team within the NIMS at a CBRNE (Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear, or Explosive) WMD Event requiring statewide response that has resulted in the need for Hazardous Materials Technician Level Response. The objectives of this evolution come directly from the IFSI Hazmat Technician A & B programs, as well as NFPA 472. This course covers a review of standard formal decontamination techniques, dry decon, and radiological decon.
The scope of this course is to prepare local responders to operate as a local member of a regional team within the NIMS at a CBRNE (Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear, or Explosive) WMD Event requiring statewide response that has resulted in the need for Hazardous Materials Technician Level Response. The objectives of this evolution come directly from the IFSI Hazmat Technician A & B programs, as well as NFPA 472. This course covers a review of radiological emergencies and decontamination, as well as practical exercises to determine the presence and amount of radiation present.
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 16-hour course is to prepare local responders to operate as a local member of a regional team within the NIMS at a CBRNE (Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear, or Explosive) event requiring statewide response that has resulted in the exposure to a hazardous material. During this course the students will demonstrate the individual skills necessary to direct and coordinate all aspects of a hazardous materials incident; implement the incident management system; simulate an activation of the emergency response plan, state and federal regional response plans; show knowledge and understanding of the importance of decontamination procedures; demonstrate an understanding of hazards associated with employees working in chemical protective clothing; analyze a hazardous materials incident, set objectives, identify potential action plans, evaluate the planned response, documentation, and complete the final termination requirements.
The scope of this course is to prepare local responders to operate as a local member of a regional team within the NIMS at a CBRNE (Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear, or Explosive) WMD Event requiring statewide response that has resulted in the need for Hazardous Materials Technician Level Response. The objectives of this evolution come directly from the IFSI Hazmat Technician A & B programs, as well as NFPA 472. This course will review the concepts of information and intelligence gathering, as well as performing recon of hazmat and other rescue scenarios.
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.
The scope of this course is to prepare local responders to operate as a local member of a regional team within the NIMS at a CBRNE (Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear, or Explosive) WMD Event requiring statewide response that has resulted in the need for Hazardous Materials Technician Level Response. The objectives of this evolution come directly from the IFSI Hazmat Technician A & B programs, as well as NFPA 472. This course covers a review of standard and MABAS issued monitoring equipment, common monitoring techniques, and field maintenance and testing procedures.
The scope of this course is to prepare local responders to operate as a local member of a regional team within the NIMS at a CBRNE (Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear, or Explosive) WMD Event requiring statewide response that has resulted in the need for Hazardous Materials Technician Level Response. The objectives of this evolution come directly from the IFSI Hazmat Technician A & B programs, as well as NFPA 472. This course covers a review of suit selection (using both hard copy and online resources), as well as exercises using both Level A and B PPE.
This course is designed to provide local and state-level emergency responders with a robust understanding of the duties, responsibilities, and capabilities of an effective ISO on an Industrial Incident Management Team. These responsibilities fall into two categories: 1) responding to the incident and the safety needs of the incident, and 2) effectively fulfilling the position responsibilities of a Safety Officer. Exercises, simulations, and discussions enable students to process and apply their new knowledge.
This class is being designed to bring operations level information to Illinois emergency first responders in the area of large animal rescue. Responders include but are not limited to members for fire, police, EMS, sheriff departments, DNR and Forest Preserve Officers. Large animals will include but are not limited to horses, cows, pigs, sheep, lamas and alpacas; however the horse and cow will be used as the teaching model. The course will cover the following subjects: classroom review of L.A.R.A. information, Animal haltering drills, and basic rescue drags drills, rescue glide drills, trailer safety inspections, simple vertical lifts drills, and mud rescue drills. The information and techniques learned are then applied to a full scale response scenario.
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. This course is delivered at local fire departments
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 course is designed to provide entry level wildland firefighter skills; including but not limited to basic incident command terminology relative to wildland firefighting positions, basic crew and resource configurations, tools, equipment and fundamental water handling concepts commonly used in wildland suppression operations. An integral part of the training covers safety issues and the mitigation concepts utilized to protect the firefighter in this dangerous environment. The student learns and hones these skills during realistic live fire exercises. Upon successful completion of this class, the student will walk away with an increased level of basic wildland firefighter competencies.
The class fees for this class are being covered by a grant if your department serves a population under 10,000. If you fail to attend the class or cancel after 4 weeks from the start of the class, you or your sponsoring department may be billed the full tuition of the class.
Pipeline Emergencies – 911 Dispatcher/PSAP course provides those who work in public safety answering point (PSAP) centers or 911 dispatchers the basic skills necessary to determine when a pipeline emergency is occurring in their community and steps to take to assist first responders from the PSAP center. The objective of the course is to provide information for the student to collect information, perform public safety actions, and make appropriate notifications to pipeline operators and response entities effectively and safely.
Pipeline Emergencies – 911 Dispatcher/PSAP course provides those who work in public safety answering point (PSAP) centers or 911 dispatchers the basic skills necessary to determine when a pipeline emergency is occurring in their community and steps to take to assist first responders from the PSAP center. The objective of the course is to provide information for the student to collect information, perform public safety actions, and make appropriate notifications to pipeline operators and response entities effectively and safely.
The School Safety and Violent Event Incident Management (SSAVEIM) course is a 8-hour performance level direct delivery course designed to improve incident management and response integration of school personnel and emergency responders (law enforcement, fire, EMS) to violent events in schools. The course provides a validated framework for use by school personnel, law enforcement, fire, and EMS to manage violent event response to improve time to threat neutralization, medical intervention, survivability of victims, and reunification of students with parents.
Association:
If you are affiliated with an emergency responder organization such as a fire, police, EMS, or EMA agency, it is mandatory to enroll in BOTH the Active Shooter Incident Management (ASIM) and the School Safety and Violent Event Incident Management (SSAVEIM) courses. Attending both courses will ensure comprehensive training for your profession.
If a school system employs you, please enroll in the School Safety and Violent Event Incident Management (SSAVEIM) course ONLY. This course is specifically tailored to equip school personnel with the necessary knowledge and skills to manage violent events in schools and reunify children with the appropriate guardians. The ASIM program is not suitable for your specific profession. However, the SSAVEIM program will provide you with a brief introduction to the relevant concepts.
Focus:
This course emphasizes incident management principles, including command, coordination, communication, collaboration, and resource management, essential for effectively managing violent events such as active shooter incidents in schools.
Important Note:
To ensure a balanced representation of first responder disciplines, we do not publicly list classes on our website. Instead, class scheduling and registration are closely coordinated with the local jurisdiction that requests the training.
Please contact Dave Saitta, our NIMS/ICS Program Manager, to set up a class in your jurisdiction.
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
The State of Illinois Traffic Incident Management course is designed for First Responders who may be called to operate at traffic incidents. This course will teach First Responders how to operate in a safe and coordinated manner with other responder agencies to quickly clear traffic incidents from the roadway. Students will learn the need for proper Traffic Incident Management, how to establish a Traffic Incident Management Area, safe positioning of response vehicles, scene safety, and how to demobilize a Traffic Incident Management Area.
This online Traffic Incident Management training course has been approved by the Illinois Office of the State Fire Marshal to meet the Traffic Incident Management training requirement in JCAR rule 141.301 for Illinois OSFM Basic Operations Firefighter certification.
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.
The scope of this course is to prepare local responders to operate as a local member of a regional team within the National Incident Management System at an event requiring statewide response that has resulted in the need for a shallow, non-intersecting trench rescue. The Trench Rescue Awareness and Operations course has been designed in accordance with NFPA 1006 Standard for Technical Rescue Professional Qualifications. This course pertains to trench rescues involving injured or entrapped persons. The class covers the federal and state regulations, use of specialized equipment for atmospheric monitoring, emergency shoring systems, victim excavation, and employment of rescuer constructed retrieval systems. Special emphasis will be given to rescuer safety and scene evolutions involving various trench rescue problems. Written and practical skills testing will be conducted at the completion of the course.
This course is designed to train first responders whose responsibilities include searching for lost persons in urban and austere land environments. The Awareness course is an introduction to the wilderness search and rescue process. Topics include recognition of weather and environmental concerns, appropriate clothing, gear and PPE, and mitigation of incident hazards. It also includes basic searching techniques and procedures including navigation. Part of the afternoon is spent outdoors practicing some of the techniques described in class.
This course meets the requirements listed in NFPA 1006 Chapter 11 Wilderness Search and Rescue. This course focuses on teaching skills to responders searching for missing persons in land environments that do not require swift water or technical rescue skills.
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 class presents a radiological/nuclear WMD overview consisting of ionizing radiation fundamentals, terminology, health effects, and recognition factors. This information is requisite knowledge for responders performing the interdiction/prevention mission and others who are likely to be the first to arrive at a radiological/nuclear incident. This fundamental knowledge of ionizing radiation and its effects is vital to responder safety, allowing performance of their mission while keeping the risk as low as reasonably achievable.
This 24-hour class is designed to provide Firefighters with a basic understanding of the design, maintenance, operation, and deployment of aerial apparatus. Students will be introduced to the various types of aerial apparatus and aerial devices that are used in the fire service, the inspection and maintenance of aerial apparatus, safe procedures for stabilization, aerial device operation, and the tactical deployment of aerial devices. Students will participate in drills that require positioning, stabilizing, and operating aerial apparatus and aerial devices. Students will be required to operate aerial apparatus during a final practical.
Below are the classes you must have completed before you can take this class:
This 40-hour class is designed for firefighters with 1-3 years of experience who are assigned to, or may be assigned to, aircraft rescue and firefighting duties at or near an airport. In this class the student will learn basic aircraft rescue and firefighter skills and hone these skills during realistic live fire exercises. Students will participate in drills that will simulate response, fire extinguishment and rescue duties. This course is designed to develop a firefighters understanding of airfield layout, aircraft construction, safety hazards, communications, rescue, extinguishing agents, ARFF apparatus, fire suppression, airport planning, and strategies and tactics for incidents involving aircraft. Upon successful completion of this class, the student will walk away with basic airport firefighter competencies.
This course introduces students to new technologies not encountered in the past that can impact rescue efforts. Topics covered include hybrid or electric driven vehicles, alternative fuel systems, dangerous drive train components, hazardous mechanical and hydraulic systems, plus more. Rescue challenges associated with air bags and their deployment and detonation systems, pre-tension systems and other passive restraint devices throughout the passenger compartment are also discussed. Methods of construction, vehicle body components and their materials of construction offer challenges not found at accident scenes in the past. The course is a recommended follow-up class to the Basic Auto Extrication course.
This course introduces students to new technologies not encountered in the past that can impact rescue efforts. Topics covered include hybrid or electric driven vehicles, alternative fuel systems, dangerous drive train components, hazardous mechanical and hydraulic systems, plus more. Rescue challenges associated with air bags and their deployment and detonation systems, pre-tension systems and other passive restraint devices throughout the passenger compartment are also discussed. Methods of construction, vehicle body components and their materials of construction offer challenges not found at accident scenes in the past. The course is a recommended follow-up class to the Basic Auto Extrication course.
In this class, first responders learn about ammonia characteristics, environmental concerns, associated health effects, EMS options, as well as public safety. Instructors also discuss responder safety and protection, including personal protection equipment (PPE) concerns and isolation or protect-in-place options. There is also a discussion on evacuation versus shelter in-place tactics. The class also covers Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) used with alarm scenarios, risk-benefit analysis and troubleshooting real life incidents with illustrations of “first-ins” and incident command responsibilities.
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.
This course is designed for firefighters who are interested in operating the pumps on their fire department. This class uses locally-available apparatus to provide core competencies with pumps and their related controls. Instructors lead discussion on types of pumps, pump controls, establishing water supply from draft and hydrants, establishing relay pumping operations, troubleshooting common problems, and placing lines in service. Upon completion of this course, the student will have a better understanding of how pumping apparatus work.
The responsibilities of the first-in truck company will be discussed. Topics including the deploying, raising, and climbing of ladders will be covered. Additionally, forcible entry operations, controlling utilities, and ventilation will be included. Crew members of the first-in truck will need to be proficient working off ladders, performing ladder rescues, using tools off ladders, as well as roof ladder deployment. During this course, students will review tools available locally for forcible entry, ventilation, and overhaul skills and become familiar with their proper application. Rounding out instruction, participants will engage in tasks such as hoisting equipment and performing search and rescue tasks. All students will drill in these essential skills regardless of their respective department’s equipment or lack thereof.
Multiple story, non-fireproof “taxpayers,” strip malls, cellars, warehouse areas and cocklofts - all pose additional risks to firefighters. Topics in the class include building construction features and collapse potential, as well as nozzles and flows for engine operations. The dangers of fires in cocklofts, cellars, and void spaces from years of remodeling are stressed. The class also covers truck company operations work with forcible entry, ventilation, and roof operations with multiple loads not designed for the original architecture. Thermal Imaging Camera, rope assisted large area searches, and team search of open retail outlets are dealt with. Concerns dealing with sprinkler systems, standpipes, and other suppression operations including the operation of aerial and outside master streams are illustrated. 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 if a structure or adequate practical training site is available.
Company Inspections is a course designed to prepare an individual to conduct basic fire prevention inspections at the company level. The class focuses on the importance of fire prevention as part of the fire service mission and on presenting the activities and skills involved in conducting company-level inspections.
The Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility (DEIA) Awareness ONLINE is designed to provide a basic understanding of the subject and how it affects the fire service. This course is broken down into three modules and will focus on the terminology and concepts of DEIA, impacts on the organization, and best practices in embracing diversity.
This 4-hour course is designed for firefighters who are interested in class A foam and compressed air foam systems (CAFS). This course will provide firefighters, pump operators and fire officers with basic knowledge of class A foam and compressed air foam operations. Topics will include class A foam, compressed air foam systems, fire attack utilizing foam, foam system operations, and foam system maintenance. Students will engage in hands-on use of CAFS handlines and CAFS pump operations utilizing IFSI’s CAFS trailer or local CAFS equipped fire apparatus. Upon successful completion of this course, the student will have a better understanding of class A and compressed air foam systems and their use for fire attack.
This course is designed for firefighters who have experience operating fire pumps, someone who has attended IFSI’s Basic Pumps course, or someone wants to review of fire service hydraulics. In this course the student will learn nozzle pressures for handlines and master stream devices, friction loss for hose and appliances, and the influence of elevation on fire service hydraulics. Students will be taught how to calculate the proper pump discharge pressures for typical fireground situations. As time allows, students will utilize local fire apparatus and equipment to practice the skills learned during the course. Upon successful completion of this course, the student will have a better understanding of fire service hydraulics.
IFSI EMS Continuing Education provides the platform for "self paced" learning. The intent of "on demand" programming is to deliver quality education to the various pre-hospital emergency medical professionals levels at their pace. The program is designed to be easily accessible as well as a long-term resource for organizations. Our platform allows organizations and individuals to receive the finest online training available and keep it into their daily routine.
Course Ojectives:
• Review basic anatomy of the cardiovascular system
• Discuss different types of bleeding that may be encountered
• Step-by-step instructions for application of C.A.T. tourniquets, Israeli bandages, and wound packing
• Discuss the use of TXA
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 a basic understanding of the emerging ethanol industry. Chances are you have volumes of ethanol moving through your community on any given day. Fire departments with ethanol plants in neighboring communities may be called to assist in ethanol plant emergencies. Ethanol has significantly different characteristics than petroleum based motor fuels. You must prepare to handle ethanol type incidents. Finally, this course provides a foundation to prepare you to take future ethanol courses. The Awareness course covers topics relating to E-85 such as chemical and physical properties, terminology, production, transportation, distribution, fire and health hazards, spills and the ramifications, sources of additional information and firefighting considerations and procedures.
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.
This class provides the firefighter with a basic understanding of the common types of fire fighting foams (for Class A, Class B, & Polar Solvent fuels), the apparatus and equipment needed to deliver them, and the procedures for setting up and using them effectively. The class also addresses the logistics of large-scale foam operations. Both transportation and storage tank incidents, with and without fire, will be discussed. Pre-planning, emergency operations, and post-incident cleaning and other activities will be discussed. Hands-on practice setting up and operating foam lines is included. Adequate foam for the class size and any environmental impact considerations are the sole responsibility of the host department. 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
This class will provide the student with a basic knowledge of search and rescue tactics and mindsets. This class is designed for the firefighter with at least one year of experience. In this class the student learns basic firefighter skills and hones these skills during realistic exercises. Upon successful completion of this class, the student will walk away with an increased level of basic firefighter competencies.
Fire Inspector I is the first required course of the Office of the Illinois State Fire Marshal’s Basic Fire Prevention Officer certification program. Fire Inspector I is a blended online (8-hour) and classroom (40-hour) educational delivery designed to prepare an individual to conduct foundational fire and life safety inspections. The class is structured for those individuals who are pursuing a fire prevention related career or who want to establish a quality understanding of fire inspection related issues.
This course is designed for all levels of the fire service. In this course, the student will learn the basics of fire and sprinkler systems as well as basic elevator functions during an alarm. The knowledge gained from this course will assist fire companies to identify and respond to different types of alarms. This will increase their awareness of tactical and strategic decision making. Upon completion of this course, the student will have a better understanding of using the fire alarm system as a tool in identifying where a true fire may be located before it starts growing exponentially.
The Flammable Liquids by Rail Awareness class will introduce students to the recent increase in crude oil shipments by rail. This course will cover the basic chemical and physical properties of the types of crude being transported. In addition, we will discuss basic railcar design features, unit vs. manifest trains, common railroad terminology, and techniques for contacting and working with the railroad. The course will touch on tactics and strategies for handling crude oil train derailments, but will not teach the student how to employ these tactics. Lastly, the course will look at case studies of recent crude train
derailments and discuss lessons learned.
This 8-hour course is designed for any first responder who could respond to a railroad emergency involving flammable liquids. Any responder with a rail line in their jurisdiction would benefit from this training. Students will have the opportunity to learn more in depth information about flammable liquids shipped by rail and their characteristics. They will receive in depth information on the types of rail road cars used to ship flammable liquids and their construction, safety features, markings and other important characteristics. They will also have the opportunity to participate in hands on evolutions learning how to properly cool rail cars involved in flammable liquid fires. They will be able to learn and practice foam application techniques on rail cars. Upon successful completion of this class, the student will have an increased level of understanding on how to deal with flammable liquid emergencies on the railroads.
This 1:16 hour class is designed for the firefighter with any level of experience being that it is only a basic level course covering basic Forcible Entry techniques. In this class the student will learn basic skills concerning many types of: force entry, tools needed, types of tools used, how to use these tools and instructor tips and tricks during classroom and hands on tool exercises. Upon successful completion of this class, the student should walk away with an increased level of basic firefighter competencies on this important subject.
The scope of this course is to educate students about grain storage facility types, their construction, and operating features. OSHA regulations, physical-environmental hazards and potential rescue resources are identified to ensure the response falls within the requirements minimizing fire department civil or criminal liability. Scene management and safety are discussed in conjunction with locating and making contact with the victim. Appropriate non-entry rescue efforts are identified. Various cutting tools are used in a simulated rescue to assist in the removal of grain from the system. Upon completion of this class the student will possess the ability to function as a support member to a rescue team conducting rescue operations at a grain storage facility.
Please bring with you to class:
Turn out gear
Helmet
Gloves
Eye protection
Ear protection
Steel toed shoes
This course is designed to train individuals who respond to releases or potential releases of hazardous substances as part of the initial response to the site for the purpose of protecting nearby persons, property, or the environment from the effects of the release. They are trained to respond in a defensive fashion without actually trying to stop the release. Their function is to contain the release from a safe distance, keep it from spreading, and prevent exposures. The course covers: an understanding of Hazmat laws and regulations, basic hazard and risk assessment techniques, selection and proper use of personal protective equipment, understanding of basic hazmat terms, how to perform basic product control procedures, and implementing basic decontamination procedures.
This 1:16 hour class is designed for the firefighter with any level of experience being that it is only a basic level course covering basic hand line operations. In this class the student will learn basic skills concerning many types of hose, hose deployment, and uses of hose in different situations. Upon successful completion of this class, the student should walk away with an increased level of basic firefighter competencies on this important subject.
This course will provide first responders with the knowledge and skills to: Understand what hazardous substances are and the risk associated with them in an incident; Recognize the presence of hazardous substances in an emergency; Understand the role of the emergency responder at the Awareness level, including site security and control; Have understanding of the U.S. Department of Transportation Emergency Response Guidebook; Realize the need for additional resources, call for appropriate assistance, and to make appropriate notifications to the community. This course also includes counter-terrorism curriculum.
This course meets NFPA 470 Standard, 2022 Edition and OSHA CFR 29.1910.120 (q). Additionally, it meets the requirements of the Illinois Emergency Management Agency, and the National Fire Academy.
This course will provide first responders with the knowledge and skills to understand hazardous substances and the risks associated with them in an incident; recognize the presence of hazardous substances in an emergency; understand the role of the emergency responder at the Awareness level, including site security and control; have understanding of the U.S. Department of Transportation Emergency Guidebook; realize the need for additional resources, call for appropriate assistance, and make appropriate notifications to the community. This course also includes counter-terrorism curriculum. This course meets OSHA CFR 29.1910.120 (q). Additionally, it meets the requirements of the Illinois Office of the State Fire Marshal, the Illinois Emergency Management Agency, and the National Fire Academy. This course is approved by the Illinois Department of Public Health for 2 Emergency Medical Services Continuing Education Hours.
Being a fire fighter entails much more than simply knowing the mechanics of firefighting. The fire service is rich with history and tradition and has developed into a sophisticated and varied profession. It is the responsibility of the fire fighter to know the history of the fire service because all these events factor into how and why a fire department operates. This course provides an overview of some significant fire-related events throughout history. The purpose of this course is to provide a basic understanding of firefighting history and to help identify the changes made to the fire service made along the timeline. This course does not count toward any state, NFPA, IFSAC, or PRO Board certification. Upon the successful completion of the ONLINE course, the student will receive an IFSI Certificate of Attendance.
This course is designed to enable personnel to operate efficiently during an incident or event within the Incident Command System (ICS) and focuses on the management of an initial response to an incident.
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 goal of this professional development course is to provide training and resources for FEMA personnel who require a basic understanding of NIMS.
This course provides Industrial Fire Brigade members a diverse selection of training which can be tailored to address the challenges of the Industry the brigade protects. With its flexible topics, training can include basic firefighting skills, technical rescue training, hazardous materials training or officer level leadership and management courses. Other topics can be included that closely match the needs of the students. Highly-trained, experienced and nationally-recognized instructors will come to your facility to simulate incidents students may face while in their home environment. Students and the organizations they represent will benefit from the tailor-made curriculum that focuses on their specific needs.
This course provides Industrial Fire Brigade members a diverse selection of training which can be tailored to address the challenges of the Industry the brigade protects. With its flexible topics, training can include basic firefighting skills, technical rescue training, hazardous materials training or officer level leadership and management courses. Other topics can be included that closely match the needs of the students. Highly-trained, experienced and nationally-recognized instructors, along with modern props and equipment, allow for quality training that closely simulates incidents students will face in the field. Students and the organizations they represent will benefit from the tailor-made curriculum that focuses on their specific needs.
This 16-hour course is designed for Firefighters who will be expected to operate mobile water supply apparatus. Students will learn the basics of mobile water supply operations, fill site establishment, dump site establishment, and the operation of mobile water supply apparatus. Students will be required to operate mobile water supply apparatus in a mobile water supply operation.
Below are the classes you must have completed before you can take this class:
To receive National Certification, you must provide copies of completion of the following prerequisites:
This six-day course introduces the student to the fundamental methodology for application of fire and life safety codes and standards. Although it contains many of the basic principles of code enforcement, more experienced code inspectors and officials might find it useful as a review of essential methodologies and as a useful update to current code enforcement applications. It is not the intent of this course to present specific code requirements, however this course focuses more on the methodology of the use of these requirements.
This two-day course presents the supervisory with the basic leadership skills and tools needed to perform effectively in the fire service environment. The course includes concepts related to a successful transition to supervisory and leadership roles, including concepts of adaptive leadership; change management; active followership; effective communication, including difficult conversations and advocacy-inquiry based dialogue; ethics; authority; power; decision-making; and active engagement through development of a personal plan.
Hands on exercises to complete the online portion of S130/S190. Water handling, hand tool use, firing devices with live fire evolution. Recommend 10/1 - Level C or D PPE.
The class fees for this class are being covered by a grant if your department serves a population under 10,000. If you fail to attend the class or cancel after 4 weeks from the start of the class, you or your sponsoring department may be billed the full tuition of the class.
This class is designed for the firefighter with varying years of experience. In this class the student learns the basic firefighter skills and techniques of Overhaul and Salvage (Loss Control), during classroom and hands on exercises. Upon successful completion of this class, the student will walk away with an increased level of basic firefighter competencies.
Pre-Fire Planning is a classroom based, 2-4 hour block of instruction designed to prepare an individual to conduct basic pre-fire plans at the company level. The class is tailored for basic operations fire service personnel to become familiar with properties and potential hazards within their communities. Topics in the course include: Benefits of Pre-Planning, Process of Pre-Planning, Process Components, Information Needed to Conduct the Pre-Plan, Equipment Needed to Conduct the Pre-Plan, Applying the process of Pre-Incident Planning to a Facility.
This course is designed for all ranks of fire service personnel who may respond to residential structure fires, in their area. This course covers in depth building construction, sizing up the incident, ventilation techniques, search and rescue as well as fire control tactics. The class will primarily be conducted in the classroom setting and will include a few tabletop exercises and drills. Upon successful completion of this course the student will have gained basic knowledge and skills for operating at incidents in residential structures.
This class is designed for the firefighter with varying years of experience. In this class the student learns the basic firefighter skills and techniques of SCBA during classroom and hands on exercises. Upon successful completion of this class, the student will walk away with an increased level of basic firefighter competencies.
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.
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
Traffic Management Incident - Awareness online is a free self-directed course that students can study at their own pace and at times convenient for them. The course includes an introduction followed by four learning modules. The course is designed so that students take each of the modules in a specific order.
Upon completion, students are directed to finish a final assessment. Students will be provided with results immediately. Upon successful completion of the assessment students can print their course completion certificate with download instructions provided at the end of the class.
Please note:
This online Traffic Incident Management training course is not approved by the Illinois Department of Transportation to meet the requirement of Illinois 625 ILCS 5/4-203.5 - Tow rotation list. Please visit IDOT’s Traffic Incident Management webpage for more information about approved TIM training at: https://idot.illinois.gov/transportation-system/transportation-safety/roadway-safety/education/traffic-incident-management.html
This online Traffic Incident Management training course has been approved by the Illinois Office of the State Fire Marshal to meet the Traffic Incident Management training requirement in JCAR rule 141.301 for Illinois OSFM Basic Operations Firefighter certification.
The scope of this course is to prepare local repsonders to operate as a local member of a regional team within the NIMS at an event requiring statewide response that has resulted in the need for a deep intersecting trench rescue. The Trench Rescue Technician course has been designed in accordance with NFPA 1006, Standard for Technical Rescue Professional Qualifications. This course pertains to trench rescues involving injured or entrapped persons. The class covers the federal and state regulations, use of specialized equipoment for atmospheric monitoring, emergency shoring systems, victim excavation, and employment of rescuer constructed retrieval systems. Special emphasis will be given to rescuer safety and scene evolutions involving various trench rescue problems.
This course provides basic hands-on training for fire and rescue personnel in vehicle stabilization. Emphasis is placed on proper choice, placement and use of cribbing, buttress system and marrying vehicles together.
Nicor Gas is committed to providing natural gas safely and reliably. Find safety and first responder information here to learn what to do in an emergency, review safety precautions, and the Nicor first responder training programs. This course is a general education course provided by Nicor Gas intended to provide awareness of natural gas emergencies.
Nicor Gas is committed to supporting the needs of first responders by promoting safety information and community partnerships.
This online on-demand program should be used as a reference tool only. It is not an online course you are required to complete, so as the user you will not receive a grade. Participants using the online on-demand resource will not receive an IFSI certificate of attendance. It is up to your organization’s training program to decide if CEUs are earned and documented when accessing the online reference. After enrolling in the online on-demand course, the online classroom can be entered during the 6-month open access to reference as many times as necessary.
Each of the online on-demand courses has Knowledge Checks. The purpose of Knowledge Checks is to give the user an idea of how well he or she understands the materials. The Knowledge Checks are ungraded and allow Learning Objectives to be self-assessed by each user.
The Nicor Gas Working Together content was developed by Nicor subject matter experts. If you have any questions specific to the content of the reference material, please contact:
Bernie Anderson
Regional Manager Community Affairs
In case of an Emergency :
Our customer service representatives are available to assist with gas emergencies 24/7, please call 888.Nicor4U (642.6748).
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.