Probie Firefighter In CO wants FF1 Cert In CT

[vailkid]

I have been a probie for 7 months in my local fire department in Colorado. Currently, I am attending school in Avon Connecticut. I would like to get my Firefighter I cert while i am attending my senior year of high school. I am 18 years old so that should not restrict me. Does anyone know of a place out here where I could do that? I would need weekend and night classes. Any advice on a place nearby???


Vailkid

[nmfire]

Look at the CT Fire Acadamy website. They have listings of all the upcoming FF-1 Classes. There are classes run by the acadamy and there are classes run by various departments in the state.

[Adze39]

First of all, you have to be 18 in CT to be FF1 because of OSHA. I don't know if you are or not, just letting you know.

Secondly, the next set of classes will probably start in January or February.

The Hartford County Regional Fire School usually has their classes at the CT Fire Academy because they share the building. They usually do Tues/Thurs night classes with a few Saturday day classes.

You can also check out the Wolcott Regional Fire School.

A little further away from you is the Eastern CT Regional Fire School which does Sat/Sun day classes.

Between the 8 regional schools and various FDs, there are usually classes going on all over the State.

[Adze39]

I believe the site that NMFire referred to is under the "Regional Fire Schools Calendar" section of the CFPC's website which can be found here

[Dalmatian90]

I also believe, Adze correct me if I'm wrong, but you pretty much have to be affiliated with a fire department in order to take classes in Connecticut. I know at least through Connecticut Fire Academy.

Your department/employer is responsible for providing gear, SCBA (usually), and worker's comp insurance, and certifying your mental & physical health.

I know CFA looks for that, and I'd be surprised if an individual instructor running an independent class would stray far from that since it's typical in Connecticut.

It's kind of a different system I know from places like California and Florida where anyone can take the courses at a community college and then look for employment. CT like a lot of the north east you need the job (paid or volunteer) first, then you can get the training. Same with Police up here by the way, no way to get POST training without getting hired first.

Your best bet is you have a local department that you can join and they recognize that your leaving after school and don't mind sponsoring anyway.

[Adze39]

Dal, I believe you are correct.

I know you have to provide your own gear and SCBA. I know the FF1 apps that I have seen require a Chief's signature.

[THTruckie]

Hey vailkid

I know that avon is always looking for new members, if you live in town I know that they have signs with a number you can call to become a volunteer.

stay safe

[InAndUp]

Somehow...I think they're looking for new members!

http://community.webshots.com/photo/36232521/36233381vNqdrN

Hook up with them and you'll have a sponsor dept. for training. Good luck in your endeavors.

[Adze39]

Yeah, InAndUp, I think I am going to have to agree with you on that one...

[mikea834]

There are a few requirements to take the Fire 1 class and being a member of a fire dept id one of them.. THe state and the instructors need to know that you are going to be covered by workers comp in case you get hurt. Even if you are a vol you are still considered an employee of the town you vol for under CT state law. Space is limited in most fire 1 classes so instuctors running classes want to give those spots to people who are acctually going to be around and use the cert to help out a community. As of now there are no independant organizations running classes. Norwalk community college tried to run a fire 1 class but they found that it was going to be too expensive and gave up on the idea. As far as the age requirements go you have to be 16 to take the class but you have to be 18 to participate in the live burn which is a requrement to finish the class and take the final tests. So if you are under age at the start of the class you can take it or even if you are going to turn 18 after the class ends you have a year i believe to complete all the requirments meaning the live burn and to take the tests. When classes are run the host dept will let other depts know if they have any spots open. I don't know if you've joined avon yet or not but if you haven't what do you plan on doing with a CT fire 1 cert anyway. So the cheif of avon can call around and find out if any classes are going to be offered soon. The state fire academy also is a good place to call. All classes must be registered with them before they start. The state is also getting strickter with who is teaching classes all instructors have to go through extra training now beyond just taking the instructor course. I know a fire 1 class is starting in farfield on monday night 11/3 but i don't know about anywhere else

[Adze39]

Originally posted by mikea834
The state is also getting strickter with who is teaching classes all instructors have to go through extra training now beyond just taking the instructor course.

Ummm...I never heard of that.

If you are talking about the "Station Evaluator" course that the State is offering, that has nothing to do with teaching a class. The only thing that has to do with is evaluating practical skills stations on tests. As of January 1st, all evaluators of practical skills tests must take the Station Evaluator course.

I have never heard of having to take a special class to teach FF1 and I know that has not been mentioned at all during the last year of CFDIA meetings.

And while we are at it, FF1 classes do not have to be registered through the state. I can teach a FF1 class right now at my firehouse if I wanted to and not notify the state. The state has applications that have to be signed off by instructors. Once I did that, my students could take the state test.