Fire Academy AA

Units: 90 units

The Fire Academy degree program prepares students for entry-level employment in the fire service and augments the existing Fire Academy certificate. Coursework includes FIR170K - Lake Tahoe Community College Fire Academy Orientation Class, FIR170L - Lake Tahoe Community College Fire Academy, Part A, FIR170M - Lake Tahoe Community College Fire Academy, Part B, and HEA140E – Emergency Medical Technician (EMT). Topics include but are not limited to: fire service organization, firefighter safety, tools and equipment, fire prevention, incident management systems, wildland firefighting, fire suppression techniques, and pre-hospital emergency medical skills. Students successfully completing the program and meeting additional industry specific requirements are eligible for California State Fire Marshal certification as a Firefighter I and National Registry certification as an EMT. The curriculum may also academically prepare the student for transfer to a 4-year university to complete a Baccalaureate degree program. All courses must be completed with a grade of B or better. Please consult with your counselor for specific transfer requirements. Lake Tahoe Community College is an Accredited Regional Training Program through the California State Fire Marshal and the State Board of Fire Services. The Fire Academy degree program follows California State Fire Marshal Firefighter I curriculum standards and the National Fire Protection’s (NFPA) Standard 1001, Standard for Firefighter Professional Qualifications. This standard is recognized across the United States as the professional qualification standard for all firefighters. Additionally, the EMT portion of the program is approved by the El Dorado County EMS Agency and is recognized throughout the State of California. Successful completion of HEA140E allows students to take the EMT National Registry Exam. Instructional areas include fire organization and responsibility, cultural diversity, safety, use of self-contained breathing apparatus, fire service apparatus and equipment operation, hose and nozzles, ladders, ropes and knots, incident command system, physical conditioning, and administering treatment within the scope of a first responder. The Fire Academy courses are sequential and must be taken in order. Students must successfully complete Lake Tahoe Community College Fire Academy Orientation Class (FIR170K) with a grade B or better to enroll in Lake Tahoe Community College Fire Academy, Part A, (FIR170L). Students must successfully complete Lake Tahoe Basin Fire Academy, Part 2 (FIR170B) with a grade B or better to enroll in Lake Tahoe Community College Fire Academy, Part B (FIR170M). Emergency Medical Technician (HEA140E) may be taken at any time and is offered independent of the Fire Academy courses. Note: In order to be certified by the California State Fire Marshal as a Firefighter I students must have six months of experience as a full-time, paid firefighter or one year experience as a volunteer/part-time firefighter. Fire Academy courses are physically demanding and a health clearance is required. When appropriate, students receive invoices in classes to cover the cost of successful completion of individual certifications through the California State Fire Marshal (estimated at $100). Students wishing to be certified as EMTs by the state and county are required to pay an $100 certification fee, a Department of Justice/FBI livescan fee of $100, and a National Registry of EMT certification fee of $80 (all payable to external agencies). In order to be eligible to take the National Registry Exam for EMTs, students must obtain a grade of B or better in HEA140E.

Program Learning Outcomes

• Demonstrate effective and safe operation of fire service tools and equipment.

• Identify and properly use various fire appliances and nozzles, and demonstrate effective hose rolling techniques.

• Identify, maintain and utilize various types of ladders used in the fire service.

• Demonstrate proficiency in the donning and doffing of self-contained breathing apparatus.

• Identify various forcible entry tools and describe their use.

• Operate within the Incident Command System (ICS).

• Apply appropriate critical thinking and skills in the assessment of illness and/or injury of a person involved in an emergency situation and apply emergency treatment principles and techniques.

Program Requirements