Fire Technology

The Fire/Emergency Response Technology program at College of the Siskiyous is designed to provide the pre-employment skills required for the career firefighter. The program is approved as an Accredited Regional Training Program by the California State Board of Fire Services. The accredited status allows COS to operate as an arm of the State Fire Training Office and to test and issue certificates locally. The program prepares students for careers in firefighting, provides in-service training to career and volunteer firefighters, and includes certification as a Firefighter I, Firefighter II, and Company Officer. A number of specialized courses certified by the California State Fire Marshal's Office, The National Fire Academy, and /or the National Wildfire Coordinating Group are also offered. The curriculum may also academically prepare the student to transfer to a four-year university to complete a baccalaureate degree program. Please check with a counselor for specific transfer requirements.

Program Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this program the student should be able to:

• Identify minimum qualifications and entry-level skills for fire fighter hiring. The student will be able to describe the following elements: application process, written exam process, physical agility exam, oral interview, chief’s interview, background investigation, and fire fighter probationary process. Students will identify fire service history, culture and diversity.
• Demonstrate the ability to analyze, appraise and evaluate fire and emergency incidents and identify components of emergency management and firefighter safety including: Size-up, report on conditions, Incident Command System, RECEO, 10 Standard Firefighting Orders, 18 Situations that Shout "Watch Out," and common factors associated with injuries and line of duty deaths.
• Identify and comprehend laws, regulations, codes and standards that influence fire department operations, and identify regulatory and advisory organizations that create and mandate them, especially in the areas of fire prevention, building codes and ordinances, and firefighter health and safety.
• Analyze the causes of fire, determine extinguishing agents and methods, differentiate the stages of the fire and fire development, and compare methods of heat transfer.
• Calculate flow requirements for fire apparatus, diagram a pump and plumbing schematic for fire apparatus, and apply mathematic formulae to hydraulics problems.
• Identify and describe the apparatus used in the fire service, and the equipment and maintenance of fire apparatus and equipment.
• Identify and describe common types of building construction and conditions associated with structural collapse and firefighter safety.
• Differentiate between fire detection and fire suppression systems. Student will design and diagram a wet and dry fire protection system, and identify alarm system components and their operations.

Career Options

Firefighter*, Fire Investigator, Fire Instructor, Fire Officer, Fire Prevention Officer, Hazardous Materials Specialist, Rescue Technician, Emergency Services Administrator.

*Firefighter positions can be found with the following agencies: City Fire Service, County Fire Services, California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, the United States Forest Services, Bureau of Land Management, and other private agencies.

Work Experience Education Credit

Students can earn Occupational Work Experience units through supervised employment in an on-the-job learning environment relating to their career goals. For more information, visit our Cooperative Work Experience Education (CWEE) page.

Faculty

Chris Delcour
Email: cdelcour@siskiyous.edu
Phone: (530) 938-5261

Jesse Roberts
Email: jroberts8@siskiyous.edu
Phone: (530) 938-5573

Contact

Program Contact: Career and Technical Education
Email: cteinfo@siskiyous.edu
Phone: (530) 938-5512