Greater St. Louis County Fire Academy, Inc.
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Below is a list of classes covered during the recruit-training program:
- Orientation (8 hours): after completing this lesson, the student will be able to describe basic fire
department organizational structure and operating procedures and distinguish among the duties and
functions of fire department personnel.
- Firefighter Safety (13 hours): after completing this lesson, the student will be able to follow basic fire
station, apparatus, and tool safety procedures and guidelines.
- Fire Behavior (6.5 hours): after completing this lesson, the student will be able to predict probable fire
behaviors and know the actions necessary to change or prevent these behaviors.
- Building Construction (6.5 hours): after completing this lesson, the student will be able to identify
structural characteristics of building construction types and recognize signs and causes of potential
building collapse.
- Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus (SCBA) (19 hours): after completing this lesson, the student will
be able to recognize toxic atmospheres, don and doff protection clothing, use a
PASS device, and safely use, clean, refill, inspect, and store SCBA.
- Arson Detection (6.5 hours): after completing this lesson, the student will be able to identify his or her
responsibilities in fire cause determination and protect evidence of fire cause and origin.
- Ropes & Knots (6.5 hours): after completing this lesson, the student will be able to identify and
properly knot, use, and maintain various types of ropes used in the fire service.
- Fire Apparatus (4 hours): covers operating, positioning, types, construction, and use of fire apparatus
for firefighting and water supplies.
- Fire Hose (9.5 hours): after completing this lesson, the student will be able to identify and use hose
couplings, tools, and appliances and will be able to load and roll hose. The student will also be able to
make hydrant connections from various lays, and will be able to carry, drag, advance, and handle
- Auto Extrication (16 hours): this class deals with subject matter of light
rescue using hand-operated hydraulic tools and hands-on using heavy
power tools. Junk cars are used for training.
- AmerenUE (4 hours): covers electrical hazards associated with dealing with high voltage wires and how
to deal with emergency situations associated with the first responder. This class is instructed by
AmerenUE.
- Water Supply (3 hours): after completing this lesson, the student will be able to describe the
fundamentals of a water supply system, measure hydrant flow pressure, and connect a fire department
pumper to various water sources.
- Fire Streams (15 hours): after completing this lesson, the student will be able to explain water and foam
streams. The student will also be able to identify and operate a given selection of nozzles and tips, and
assemble and operate a foam fire stream system.
- Forcible Entry (6.5) hours: after completing this lesson, the student will be able to identify and know
appropriate applications and maintenance procedures for forcible entry tools.
- Loss Control (6.5 hours): after completing this lesson, the student will be able to safely and efficiently
perform salvage and overhaul at a fire scene while protecting evidence for fire cause.
- Ladders (20 hours): after completing this lesson, the student will be able to identify, carry, raise, climb,
inspect, and maintain fire service ground ladders.
- Ground Cover Fires (4 hours): class matter deals with wildland
firefighting. Goes into depth on firefighting, topography,
weather, size-up, and tactics and strategy to protect wildland
areas.
- Fire Control (4 hours): after completing this class, the student will be able to operate as part of a team
to control and/or extinguish interior and exterior Class A, C, and D fires and passenger vehicle and
wildland fires.
- Prevention & I.D. (6.5 hours): after completing this lesson, the student will be above to identify
residential fire hazards, conduct a fire station tour and a residential fire safety survey, and make and
document a fire and life safety presentation.
- E.M.S. (3 hours): minimum emergency medical care performance capabilities to include infection control,
CPR, bleeding control, and shock management.
- Diversity in the Fire Service (4 hours)
- Ventilation (6.5) hours: after completing this lesson, the student will be able to apply the principles of
ventilation to appropriately ventilate a building.
- Positive Pressure Ventilation (8 hours): this class covers fire behavior
and air flow, size-up horizontal and vertical ventilation including (PPV),
ventilation in high-rise buildings, and other
situations.
- Public Fire Education (6.5 hours): consists of planning and implementing fire prevention campaigns.
Explains how to target age groups and work with the media to control fires before they happen.
- Report Writing (4 hours): after completing this class, the student should be familiar with the procedure
of filing an incident report and the importance of obtaining accurate and complete information.
- Critical Incident Stress (3 hours)
- Auto Fires (6.5 hours): NFPA states that vehicle fires are one of the most common fires within the
United States. With the advent of airbags, side impact protection, hybrids, and other alternative fueled
vehicles, these "common" fires have become anything but routine. Fire recruits learn both basic and
advanced skills to mitigate these common, yet highly hazardous and potentially deadly events. Skills such
as forcible entry, hose and nozzle streams, and fire control are reinforced while students learn to safely
extinguish a passenger vehicle fire emergency using live fire training.
- Laclede Gas/Natural Gas burn (8 hours): studies the hazards of natural gas, explosive ranges, and
properties of same. Also explores the dos and don'ts of dealing with natural gas. Focuses on firefighting
duties of first-in engine company to a scene. Consists of four hours in classroom and four hours live fire
training.
- Sprinklers (4 hours): after completing this lesson, the student will be able to perform basic operations at
properties protected by automatic sprinklers.
- Alarms & Communications (4 hours): after completing this lesson, the student will be able to identify
and properly use various fire service communications systems and equipment.
- Extinguishers (8 hours): after completing this lesson, the student will be able to identify and use portable
fire extinguishers to extinguish small Class A, Class B, and Class C fires.
- Flammable Liquids (8 hours): This class deals with the chemistry of foam for fire suppression. Topics
include: concentrated foams, mixing, eductors, limitations, understanding fog nozzles, aspirating nozzles,
and foam tubes. Includes hands-on live fire training field exercise.
- Terrorism: Basic Concepts (8 hours)
- Liquefied Propane Gas (8 hours): focuses on useful handling of hazardous materials incidents involving
flammable gases. Students will learn about tank construction, properties of liquid propane gas, proper
tactics for dealing with liquid propane gas, and will receive live fire training with liquid propane gas on site.
- Hazardous Materials Awareness & Operations (27 hours): recognition and identification of
hazardous materials, labeling, placarding, scene control, and use of D.O.T. Response book.
- Search & Rescue (24 hours): after completing this lesson, the student will be able to safely use various
rescue and extrication tools, and conduct a search and rescue in a structure operating as a member of a
team.
- High Rise (8 hours): covers construction, fireground management, tactical considerations, elevators, life
safety, ventilation, and water supply.
- Structure burns (16 hours): live fire training evolutions. Class incorporates all skills taught for
firefighting: suppression, safety, rescue, ICS, hose handling, PPV, water supply, etc.
- Rapid Intervention training (4 hours): after completion, the student will be aware of tasks and
procedures to implement a rapid rescue of a downed firefighter.
- Incident Command (4 hours): this class combines command strategy with organizational procedures
and is designed to be used for structural firefighting incidents using up to 25 companies. It is also used
for other types of emergency incidents.
- NIMS (4 hours): National Incident Management System class: ICS 100 & 700.
The City of St. Louis Fire Department graciously donated their time and the use of their ladder truck for our
recruit ladder training on February 4, 2009. The St. Louis County Fire Academy greatly appreciates the
help the City has given us throughout the years. Many thanks to Chief Jenkerson, Captain Washington,
Captain Neighbors, and all our City friends!
(Photos by: Firefighter Jennifer Swatek - 81st Recruit Class)
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(Photos by: Firefighter Jennifer Swatek - 81st Recruit Class)
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(Photos by: Firefighter Jennifer Swatek - 81st Recruit Class)
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(Photos by: Firefighter Jennifer Swatek - 81st Recruit Class)
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(Photos by: Firefighter Jennifer Swatek - 81st Recruit Class)
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