Below is a list of classes covered during the recruit-training program:
Academy practical testing: Recruits are tested on the skills learned during the recruit-training program.
Academy written testing: At the end of the training program, recruits take a 150-question exam covering all course content and subjects. The passing grade is 70%.
BlueCard Terminology: After completing this class, the student shall be able to identify the commonly used BlueCard terminology used in the St. Louis Metro Area. This class is taught with the Communications chapter in the recruit’s manual. The student will be introduced to portable and mobile radio use.
Building Construction: After completing this lesson, the student shall be able to understand how building construction features and materials will contribute to fire spread as well as how heat affects structural components and materials, differentiate among types of building construction, describe the construction of floors, ceilings, and walls; explain how basements and stairs may impact firefighting operations; describe the construction and operation methods of different types of doors; describe the construction and operation methods for various kinds of windows.
Building Materials, Structural Collapse & Effects of Fire Suppression: After completing this lesson, the student shall be able to identify the effects of fire on building materials; describe structural collapse considerations, and explain the effects of fire suppression activities on building materials; explain considerations to be taken when establishing collapse zones; describe actions that should be taken when structural collapse is imminent; describe building conditions and fire suppression activities that can impact fire spread and structural stability.
Cancer Awareness: After completing this lesson, the student shall know the risk of cancer in the fire service, understand how to reduce your risk of contracting job-related cancers, understand the minimum requirements for the use and wear of SCBA and Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), know the procedures for decontamination at the scene, and know how to perform decontamination at the fire station (Ref. FGSI Cancer Risk Reduction SOG # 007).
Communications: After completing this lesson, the student shall be able to describe the different types of communication that occur in the fire department, explain the procedures for receiving nonemergency calls, define the types of communications systems and equipment used to receive and process emergency calls; explain the procedures for receiving and dispatching emergency calls; describe radio equipment and methods used for internal fire department communications; handle emergency and non-emergency phone calls; use a portable radio for routine and emergency traffic. (Ref. FGSI First Alarm Structure Fires SOG # 001 and Standards for Response # 006).
Community Risk Reduction: After completing this lesson, the student will be able to explain the importance of fire and life safety programs, surveys, presentations, and pre-incident planning.
Courage to be safe so Everyone Goes Home ®: Firefighters must have the courage to face a multitude of risks to save lives and protect their communities. Their courage allows them to willingly risk their own lives so that others can be saved. A different type of courage is required to stay safe in potentially dangerous situations, avoiding needless risks and tragic consequences. This provocative and moving presentation is designed to change the culture of accepting the loss of firefighters as a normal occurrence. Building on the untold story of LODD survivors, it reveals how family members must live with the consequences of a firefighter’s death and provides a focus on the need for firefighters and officers to change fundamental attitudes and behaviors to prevent line-of-duty deaths. The central theme promotes the courage to do the right thing to protect yourself and other firefighters and ensure that “Everyone Goes Home” at the end of the day.
Critical Incident Stress Management: This class is the firefighter’s introduction to the stress of the job. The class addresses the issues with the job and the help that is available to firefighters.
Diversity: This class covers discrimination, harassment, and workplace respect with examples and student participation.
Downed Firefighter CPR and Stop the Bleed: The students will be taught the industry standard of a firefighter in turnout gear needing CPR. This class is hands-on experience; the recruit is walked through the steps to achieve CPR on the down firefighter and then demonstrates the skills. The final objective is for the recruit to become proficient in the process.
Electrical Safety: Ameren instructs this class on electrical hazards associated with high-voltage wires and how to deal with emergencies related to the first responder.
Emergency Control of Natural Gas: This course studies the hazards, explosive ranges, and properties of natural gas and explores the dos and don’ts of dealing with it. It focuses on the firefighting duties of the first-in engine company at a scene.
Engine Company/Truck Company Operations: Recruits will practice the skills needed at a structure fire individually and as part of a crew under the guidance of instructors. The skills practiced are based on NFPA 1001 JPRs but are not limited to those JPRs.
Exams: Exams will be given as scheduled, covering the subject matter of the previous two weeks. All exams must be passed to graduate. The passing grade is 70%.
Fire Detection, Protection & Suppression Systems: After students complete this chapter and the related course work, they will be able to describe the components and functions of a fire alarm and the basic types of fire alarm initiation devices. Students will also be able to identify various sprinkler heads and indicating valves. They will also be able to describe and identify automatic sprinkler systems, standpipe systems, and specialized extinguishing systems.
Fire Dynamics: After completing this lesson, the student shall be able to explain the basic principles of fire science, describe the stages of fire development and the reaction of building construction to fire, describe how thermal energy impacts fire behavior, explain the function of fuel within the combustion process; explain the function of oxygen within the combustion process; explain the self-sustained chemical reaction involved in flaming combustion.
Fire Hose: After completing this lesson, the student shall be able to describe the characteristics of hoses and understand how to inspect, care for, and maintain fire hose. They should also be able to differentiate between different types of hose rolls and loads.
Fire Origin & Cause Determination: After completing this lesson, the student shall be able to describe the roles and responsibilities of firefighters and fire investigators in a fire investigation, explain the process of determining the area of origin, explain the process of fire cause determination; describe considerations related to evidence preservation.
Fire Service History: After completing this lesson, the student will understand early firefighting history and the progression of firefighting. The student will be given a background on the progression of the fire service, including gear, equipment, and tactics. Historical fires will be discussed along with the legacies that they left. The student will understand St. Louis County’s history of the fire service, including early line-of-duty deaths, the first female firefighters, early African American firefighters, and the role that the IAFF plays in St. Louis County.
Fire Suppression / Auto Fires: After students complete this chapter and the related course work, they will be able to distinguish between offensive and defensive strategies, and they will understand the special considerations for fires in large buildings, basements, concealed spaces, above ground level, lumberyards, energized equipment, and flammable gases and liquids. Students will also have the skills to operate hose lines, use fire streams, conduct indirect, direct, and combination fire attacks, operate master stream devices, and extinguish vehicle fires.
Firefighter Personal Protective Equipment: After completing this lesson, the student shall be able to distinguish between types of personal protective clothing and equipment and explain how to safely use various types of protective clothing and equipment, describe the inspection, cleaning, and maintenance of PPE; describe conditions that require the use of respiratory protection equipment; identify SCBA components; explain the procedures for donning and doffing SCBA; describe methods of refilling, replacing, and storing SCBA cylinders; describe safety considerations for working in and exiting a hazardous atmosphere while wearing SCBA.
First Aid Provider: After completing this lesson, the student shall be able to describe the role of the fire service in providing emergency medical care; explain patient confidentiality requirements; identify communicable diseases that first responders commonly encounter; explain ways to prevent the spread of infectious diseases during emergency medical care; explain the process of patient assessment; describe CPR; describe methods of controlling bleeding; explain shock management.
First Alarm Responses: After completing this lesson, the student will have a thorough understanding of their part as a team member and what is expected of them during a first-alarm response to a fire in St. Louis County based on the First Alarm to Structure Fires SOG (# 001). The student will participate in scenarios depicting crew responses to a structure fire following the relevant SOGs (Ref. FGSI Standards for Response SOG # 006).
First Alarm SOG: This class prepares the firefighter to be ready to respond to a structure fire per the St. Louis County guidelines. This and other classes prepare the recruit to safely participate in the Fire Academy burns. (Ref. FGSI First Alarm Structure Fires SOG # 001).
Flammable Liquids & Foam: 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.
Foam Fire Fighting, Liquid Fires & Gas Fires: After completing this lesson, the student shall be able to describe methods used to generate fire fighting foam; identify materials and equipment needed to generate fire fighting foam; describe methods of foam application; describe operations involving liquid and gas fires.
Forcible Entry: After completing this lesson, the student shall be able to recognize different types of forcible entry tools and describe methods for forcing entry through doors, windows, and walls; explain considerations for forcible entry tool safety; explain how to carry forcible entry tools; describe how to clean and maintain forcible entry tools.
Ground Ladders: After completing this lesson, the student shall be able to identify the types of ladders and the parts of a ladder. They shall also describe safe practices for using, carrying, and placing a ground ladder. Students shall be able to explain methods for raising and lowering a ladder, working from a ladder, and assisting victims down a ladder; describe the process of cleaning, inspecting, and maintaining a ladder.
Hazardous Materials Awareness & Operations: Recognition and identification of hazardous materials, labeling, placarding, scene control, and use of D.O.T. Response book.
Hazardous Materials Awareness & Operations practical testing: A recruit must successfully demonstrate all practical skills tested on the Missouri Division of Fire Safety’s Hazardous Materials Awareness and Operations practical evaluations. A recruit is allowed two attempts to demonstrate a given skill successfully.
Hazardous Materials Awareness & Operations written testing: The passing grade for a Missouri Division of Fire Safety written exam is 70%. The certification written exams consist of 50 multiple-choice questions for Hazardous Materials Awareness and 100 multiple-choice questions for Hazardous Materials Operations.
High Rise: Covers construction, fireground management, tactical considerations, elevators, life safety, ventilation, and water supply. (Ref. FGSI High-Rise Fire Operations SOG # 008, Standpipe Operations SOG # 009, and Elevator Operations at Structure Fires SOG # 010).
Hose Operations and Fire Streams: After completing this lesson, the student will be able to describe methods of supplying water for firefighting operations, methods used to deploy fire hose, methods of advancing hoselines, differentiate among types of hose streams and nozzles and explain how to operate different types of hoselines, nozzles, and master stream devices.
IAFF Fire Ground Survival: The IAFF Fire Ground Survival program ensures that training for Mayday prevention operations is consistent among all firefighters, company officers, and chief officers. Firefighters must be trained to perform potentially life-saving actions if lost, disoriented, injured, low on air, or trapped. These training exercises must be consistent throughout the fire service.
Incident Scene Operations: After completing this lesson, the student shall be able to describe the process for initiating incident operations and transferring Command. Students will also be able to explain how unit operations are coordinated and how post-incident reports are used.
Interview Skills: Getting the Job for fire recruits is aimed at education as it pertains to networking, resume formation, and interviewing. This skill set is not taught in any formal education setting, and the vast majority of fire recruits leave the Academy to find their dream job only to get stifled by a rigorous and intimidating interview process. The goal of the class is to make the recruits feel confident in their ability to find job opportunities, apply appropriately utilizing their background to create a brand unique to them, and provide interpersonal skills from individuals with over 20 years of experience interviewing new hires. The class is 4 hours and consists of 2 hours of lecture followed by 2 hours of practical interview work. Objectives: Learn who, where, and how to network in order to learn about the reality of what to expect at any given Fire District or Department; Encourage recruits to learn, through self-discovery, what type of place might be the best fit for them; Learn how to build the type of resume that fits their background and the desires of the Fire District or Department they are seeking employment; Understand the verbal and non-verbal responses that make for an excellent interview; Work with instructors to hone these skills in practical application.
Introduction to Structure Burns: After completing this lesson, the student will have an understanding of what is expected of them as a team during the structure burns at the Fire Academy. The student will participate in scenarios depicting the structure burns presented during the recruit-training program. The scenarios shall involve the skills of hose advancement, water flow, stream placement, and ventilation.
Introduction to the Fire Service & Firefighter Safety: After completing this lesson, the student shall be able to identify the mission of the fire service, describe how fire departments are organized, and understand various regulations that apply to firefighters; describe fire department SOPs, rules, and regulations that affect a Fire Fighter I; explain ways that fire departments may interact with other organizations and agencies; explain the roles and duties of a Fire Fighter I; describe fire and life safety initiatives aimed at reducing firefighter illnesses, injuries, and fatalities; describe the aspects of NFPA 1500 related to firefighter safety and health; summarize general guidelines for operating safely at structural fire scenes; summarize safe practices for riding in fire service vehicles and apparatus.
Learning to Know: This course is meant to motivate, inform, and instruct individuals from all backgrounds on an often ignored but vitally important skill: how to learn. This class is essential for both EMS students and instructors, as it seeks to break down how to be successful in education at any level. Learning is a skill that we are supposed to just “figure out” through our educational journey in primary, secondary, and post-secondary education. But why not elevate our understanding of the educational process by focusing on it directly? Learning to Know is an interactive class that creates “Ah-ha” moments for attendees by identifying what many students and instructors may know but have never articulated. This is accomplished through a mix of original ideas, classical and contemporary literature, and relevant examples from years of personal experience tutoring students and instructors in the field of EMS. Objectives: Encourage attendees to “find their why” by understanding different types of motivators and how they translate into actually taking action; Utilize “Educational Triage” to understand the difference between learning and knowing so together they can guide your approach to education through a familiar idea to EMS providers; Distinguish your personal learning style preferences and how that translates to actual course work and on the job learning; Learn to be a demanding reader and go beyond the elementary level by using simple techniques to vastly increase your understanding of course material; Mold educational material to your understanding by “wrestling” it into submission through a consistent, efficient, and complete approach; Prioritize your time through the idea of “reality scheduling” and understanding why “Discipline = Freedom.”
Maintenance & Testing Responsibilities: After completing this lesson, the student shall be able to describe procedures for maintaining equipment and service testing fire hose.
Mayday: Students will be taught how and when to call a mayday, along with mayday prevention. Students will learn how the body reacts physiologically when faced with a fight or flight situation and how best to survive. (Ref. FGSI Mayday at Structure Fires SOG # 004).
Mental Strength of a First Responder: To bring awareness to mental strength and struggles throughout the career of a first responder. (Ref. FGSI Occupational Stress SOG # 014).
Missouri Division of Fire Safety Fire Control and Live Fire Evolutions: Recruits are tested on proficiency of various skills learned throughout the training program. A recruit is allowed two attempts to demonstrate a given skill successfully.
Missouri Division of Fire Safety Firefighter I and II practical exam: A recruit must successfully demonstrate all practical skills tested on the Missouri Division of Fire Safety’s Firefighter I and II evaluations. A recruit is allowed two attempts to demonstrate a given skill successfully.
Missouri Division of Fire Safety Firefighter I and II written exam: The passing grade for a Missouri Division of Fire Safety written exam is 70%. The certification written exams consist of 100 multiple-choice questions for each level of certification.
National Incident Management System online certification (100, 200, and 700): The Missouri Division of Fire Safety requires NIMS 100, 200, and 700 certification for Firefighter I and II certification.
Overhaul to Fireball: Students will learn the dangers firefighters face while battling wind-driven fires. The real-life example of the residential house fire St. Charles City Fire Department had, and the lessons learned from Nancy Drive.
Overhaul, Property Conservation & Scene Preservation: After completing this lesson, the student will be able to describe overhaul, explain how to conserve property at a fire scene, and describe the duties that firefighters must perform to protect and preserve a fire scene.
Peer Support: Students will be given an overview of the support available to firefighters through the IAFF’s local resources. Topics will cover suicide, PTSD, crisis concerns, and who and how to reach out to the team.
Portable Fire Extinguishers: After completing this lesson, the student shall be able to recognize different classifications and types of portable fire extinguishers and select the appropriate fire extinguisher for the situation at hand.
Propane Gas: Focuses on proper 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. Consists of four hours in the classroom and four hours of live fire training.
Physical Training: This class teaches a healthy approach to life and the career of a firefighter.
RACTAC: Rapid Access Care Treatment & Clearance (RACTAC) came from the desire to integrate Fire/EMS resources into law enforcement operations faster during active violence incidents. Looking at active shooter events nationwide, fire department leaders created a model that enables emergency medical services (EMS) to provide emergency medical intervention faster and within the Incident Command System (ICS) construct. (Ref. FGSI Active Killer SOG # 013).
Report Writing: Focuses on proper reports for state and local levels. It also helps students learn how to be more effective in relaying information by means of the pen and their thoughts.
Rapid Intervention Crew (RIC): Students will be hands-on in this class of rescuing our own. Students will learn how to assemble the proper tools and assess the building when this team is formed. They will also know how to evaluate the injured, lost, or trapped firefighter once they have arrived to help. Firefighter removal and air supply techniques will be taught. Firefighter drags and lifts will be the main focus of the class. (Ref. FGSI Mayday at Structure Fires SOG # 004).
Ropes & Knots: After completing this lesson, the student shall be able to describe various uses for life safety and utility rope and differentiate among types of knots. The student shall also be able to describe the procedures for cleaning, inspecting, and maintaining ropes; identify types of knots; describe the procedure for hoisting various tools and equipment; and explain how ropes and knots are used during rescues and other emergencies.
Saws, Small Engines, & Scene Lighting: Students will learn the basics of safety, set-up, use, and maintenance of various fire department saws, engines, and lighting equipment.
Structural Search & Rescue: After completing this lesson, the student shall be able to explain practices for firefighter survival during interior operations and describe search and rescue operations. Students shall also be able to describe MAYDAY protocols, evacuation, and rapid intervention operations; describe air-monitoring operations; and describe rapid intervention crew equipment and duties. Lifts, drags, carries, and patient movement will be reviewed and practiced individually and in teams.
Structure burns: Live fire training evolutions. The class incorporates all skills taught for firefighting: suppression, safety, rescue, ICS, hose handling, PPV, water supply, etc. It consists of 16 hours of hands-on live fire training. Practical: outdoor activity; full gear with SCBA. Extinguish fires in the burn tower. Climb ladders, move hose lines, flow water, crawling, and search buildings. (Ref. Standards for Response SOG # 006).
Structure burn skills evolutions: Students will learn how fire ground operations flow at working fire incidents. This hands-on class simulates the chaotic fire ground activity and how to work through the chaos. Students will receive orders from command and carry out those orders to mitigate the situation.
Tactical Ventilation: After completing this lesson, the student shall be able to describe the purpose of tactical ventilation and to explain the process for ventilating flat or pitched roofs; describe safety considerations related to tactical ventilation; describe ventilation tools and equipment; describe considerations related to the ventilation of basements and other special compartments.
Technical Rescue Support & Vehicle Extrication Operations: After completing this lesson, the student shall be able to describe different types of rescue situations, the hazards involved in those situations, and the firefighter’s responsibility at vehicle extrication and rescue incidents; identify tools used at technical rescues; identify vehicle construction methods and components; describe vehicle stabilization operations; describe techniques used to access, stabilize, package, and removed victims at a vehicle extrication incident.
Wildland & Ground Fires: After students complete this chapter and the related course work, they will know the various methods of combating wildland fires and the tools and personal protective equipment (PPE) needed to operate safely at the scene of such incidents. They will learn how to suppress ground fires and deploy a fire shelter. Practical: Outdoor activity. Partial gear. Extinguish brush and grass fires.