Fire Innovation Training (FIT)

Procedures and Protocols

The FIT program enables fire departments to design their own individualized training programs based on their needs and requirements.

All programs will be fully compliant with the NFPA standard and the BC Playbook as it applies to B.C. Fire Departments. In addition, those departments seeking ProBoard Certification will meet all of the ProBoard requirements of accreditation before being considered for certification.

Procedure:

1. Initial request from department to train through the College of the Rockies Fire innovations Training Program through is sent to the College of the Rockies Program Administrator.
   
2. Department contact or AHJ consults with Program/Curriculum Coordinator via phone or email to discuss procedures and determine department training needs/requests including choice of curriculum (Jones and Bartlett or IFSTA).
   
3. Department registers trainees with College of the Rockies Program Administrator.
   
4. Department will draft their program of training with assistance from Program/Curriculum Coordinator as requested. Program of training should include target dates for examinations and assessments even though those dates may need to be changed. Your training program will be unique to your department unless you partner with another department for training purposes.
   
5. Once department program of training is complete training can begin using your selected curriculum and making use of the respective Instructor Tool Kits as the resource for Lesson Plans, Power Point and exam preparation.
   
6. Because each department will have individualized training components no two tests are the same. As such, request for written and practical examinations must be submitted on an exam request form citing the chapters you would like tested, the date of testing and the request for Proctors or Evaluators. The Program Coordinator will discuss evaluative protocols and requirements with the department contact.
   
7. Departments will determine (with the aid of the Coordinator as requested) how they will train to the course material. You are free to divide chapters into groups or units and test each component independently (ie Unit 1 IFSTA or Jones and Bartlett – Ch. 1, 2, 4, 6, 8) One test for FF1 and one test for FF2 plus the practical skills would be generated upon request and then tested. Once candidates complete successfully, you would move on to Unit 2 and so on until you have successfully completed the course. You are also free to do the entire course and write final examinations at the end of the program if that is what the department determines. Discussion with the Coordinator is advised.
   
8. Departments must ensure that JPR skills are completed and documented in house prior to requesting evaluations. Skills tests are randomly selected and any skills may be selected. As such, it is critical that all skills have been in house taught and assessed prior to evaluation request.
   
9. Exam requests must be received AT LEAST two weeks prior to requested assessment dates. As indicated earlier in this document, because of the uniqueness of each departments program, we build exams specific to your training program so will not have pre-designed exams.
   
10. Exam requests must be submitted to the College of the Rockies Program Administrator, and it is recommended that you also cc program Coordinator.

Protocols:

1. All candidates will be permitted two (2) opportunities for assessments. One exam re-write and one practical skills evaluation. Re-tests are billable to the department.
   
2. Should a candidate be unsuccessful in both attempts, the department contact will consult with the Coordinator to determine options.
   
3. Training components can be changed and any time if the department has determined components would work best in a different format. Both the Administrator and the Coordinator would need to be apprised of any changes to the program of training.
   
4. The College will not hold you to the target dates on your training schedule if those dates do not work out. We do work with the date submitted on the exam request form and if that needs to change simply contact us and we will reconfigure exam dates.
   
5. Evaluators must be at the level or above the course being evaluated and must hold a Fire Service Instructor I or better for consideration as a college evaluator.
   
6. Exam proctors can be assigned by the College or requested by the department.
   
7. Proctors and Evaluators must not have taken part in any instruction of candidates.
   
8. Specific protocols and forms will be submitted to participating department.

Contact the College of the Rockies Fire Program and Compliance Administrator for any administrative questions, registration, fees, Record of Training, cost quotes, exam requests and scores and ProBuild compliance and custom course development).

Contact the College of the Rockies Training Coordinator for any curricular questions (exams, curriculum, instruction, special needs assistance, course/program development, NFPA standards.)

The BC Playbook is applicable to all fire services personnel in British Columbia, as defined in the Fire Service Act. It covers all fire departments and fire services, including municipal and regional district fire fire departments, fire brigades, volunteer fire departments and fire department established under the Society Act (BC).

College of the Rockies custom courses for the Interior, Exterior Fire Fighter exceeds the government mandate that departments are needed in the authority of having jurisdiction.

BC Playbook Exterior Fire Fighter

This course complies with the standards set by NFPA 1001 and the BC Fire Service Playbook. The course provides a foundation of theory and practical skill development for candidates who are members of a fire department in B.C. and whose AHJ has designated the level of training for that department to be BC Playbook EXTERIOR level. In addition, the course enables bridging for those candidates who wish to pursue Interior and/or Full service BC Playbook, or are pursuing a career in the fire services.

Prerequisites: None

Co-requisites:

• NFPA 1072 HazMat Awareness     
• Emergency Scene Traffic Control
• Gas/Electric Safety           
• SPP-WFF Level 1 Wild Land Fire
• ICS – 100

Delivery: This course is delivered face-to-face (In-house training – Fire Departments)

Hours for this course: 65 Hours 

Credential: Students who complete this skills course will be awarded a College of the Rockies Certificate of Completion of the Course Requirements Specified in the BC Fire Service Minimum Training Standard Playbook  – Exterior Level 

Course outline author: Walt Osellame

Textbooks and required resources:  

• Jones & Bartlett – Fundamental of Fire Fighter Skills 3rd Edition (Canadian) or Ifsta – Essential of Fire Fighting and Fire Department Operations – 6th Edition.

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BC Playbook Interior Fire Fighter

This course complies with the standards set by NFPA 1001 and the BC Fire Service Playbook. The course provides a foundation of theory and practical skill development for candidates who are members of a fire department in B.C. and who’s AHJ has designated the level of training for that department to be BC Playbook Interior Level. In addition, the course enables bridging for those candidates who wish to pursue Full Service BC Playbook, or are pursuing a career in the fire services. The prerequisite for candidates pursuing the INTERIOR Level is full successful completion of all the Exterior Level theory and practical components as outlined in the BC Playbook. Topics include the completion of components from the Exterior level, as well as Fire Department Operating Procedures, safety initiatives, theory and skills related to interior fire suppression and rescue operations, and Rapid Intervention training. These components will lead to the NFPA 1001 FF1 level.

Note: Before being certified at the Firefighter I level, candidates must have already passed HazMat (NFPA 1072) at the Awareness and Operations Level.

Delivery: This course is delivered face-to-face (In-house training – Fire Departments)

Hours for this course: 75 Hours 

Credential: Students who complete this skills course will be awarded a College of the Rockies Certificate of Completion of the Course Requirements Specified in the BC Fire Service Minimum Training Standard Playbook  – Interior  Level 

Course outline author:  Walt Osellame

Textbooks and required resources:

• Jones & Bartlett – Fundamental of Fire Fighter Skills 3rd Edition (Canadian) or Ifsta – Essential of Fire Fighting and Fire Department Operations – 6th Edition.

NFPA 1002 – Standard for Apparatus Driver/Operator Professional Qualifications

NFPA 1006 –  Standard for Technical Rescuer Professional Qualifications

• Confined Space Rescue Technician – Level 1
• Confined Space Rescue Technician Level 2
• Rope Rescue Technician – Level 1
• Rope Rescue Technician – Level 2
• Vehicle Rescue Technician – Level 1
• Vehicle Rescue Technician – Level 2

NFPA 1021   – Standard for Fire Officer Professional Qualifications

• Fire Officer – Level 1
• Fire Officer – Level 2

NFPA 1033 – Fire Investigator

NFPA 1041 – Standard for Fire Service Instructor Qualifications

NFPA 1081 – Standard for Industrial Fire Brigade Member Professional Qualification

• Incipient Industrial Fire Brigade Member
• Incident Safety Officer

NFPA 1521 – Standard for Fire Department Safety Officer

Pro Board Accredited Certification

Established in 1972, the Pro Board is the original fire service system for the accreditation of agencies that certify candidates to the various disciplines and levels identified in the NFPA Professional Qualification series of standards.

College of the Rockies are one of the 70 agencies accredited by the Pro Board, and they offer accredited certification to fire service professionals across North America, and around the world.

Standard	Registry Code	Level	Edition
1001	1001-10	Fire Fighter I	2013
1001	1001-20	Fire Fighter II	2013
1002	1002-10	Driver/Operator of Fire Apparatus Equipped with a Fire Pump	2017
1006	1006-80	Rope Technical Rescuer I	2013
1006	1006-85	Rope Technical Rescuer II	2013
1006	1006-110	Confined Space Technical Rescuer I	2013
1006	1006-115	Confined Space Technical Rescuer II	2013
1006	1006-210	Vehicle Technical Rescuer I	2013
1006	1006-215	Vehicle Technical Rescuer II	2013
1021	1021-10	Fire Officer I	2014
1021	1021-20	Fire Officer II	2014
1033	1033-10	Fire Investigator	2014
1041	1041-10	Fire Instructor I	2012
1041	1041-20	Fire Instructor II	2012
1072	1072-10	Hazardous Materials Responder at the Awareness Level	2017
1072	1072-20	Hazardous Materials Responder at the Core Operations Level	2017
1072	1072-23	Hazardous Materials Responder at the Awareness and Core Operations Level: with Product Control and Personal Protective Equipment Mission Specific Competencies	2017
1072	1072-30	Hazardous Materials Responder at the Operations Level: Personal Protective Equipment Mission Specific Competency	2017
1072	1072-34	Hazardous Materials Responder at the Operations Level: Product Control Mission Specific Competency	2017
1081	1081-10	Incipient Industrial Fire Brigade Member	2012
1521	1521-20	Incident Safety Officer	2015