The California Office of the State Fire Marshal (CSFM) develops State Certification training standards and courses that meet or exceed NFPA national standards. Courses are developed by selected professionals in those areas, and go through several committee approvals before final approval by the State Board of Fire Services (SBFS). Classes fall under two broad categories: California Fire Service Training and Education System (CFSTES) and Fire Service Training and Education Program (FSTEP).
CFSTES delivers the certification courses, which can lead to state certification as a Firefighter I, Firefighter II, Fire Officer, and Chief Officer, among others. FSTEP delivers shorter courses, which are primarily oriented to emergency operation techniques.
This Appendix lists courses that might be adopted by a department for promotional processes, specialized training, increased professionalism, and reduced liability by meeting a "recognized industry standard" in its training.
FIREFIGHTER TRAINING AND CERTIFICATION
COURSE NAME DESCRIPTION HOURS
Fire Fighter I Basic training course for entry-level firefighters. Hours do not include practice, drill, or evaluation time.
352+
Fire Fighter II Basic training course for probationary firefighters. Hours do not include practice, drill, or evaluation time.
87+
Hazardous Materials First Responder (Operations Level)
Meets OSHA requirements for basic response techniques and procedures to hazardous materials incidents.
16
I-200 Basic ICS 16
Fire Control 3 (FSTEP) Live fire training in acquired structures to provide experience in structural firefighting.
16 Fire Control 4 (FSTEP) Live fire training in combating fire involving LPG and
flammable liquids.
16 Fire Control 6 (FSTEP) Wildland fire fighting essentials (classroom) 16 Fire Control 7 (FSTEP) Live fire training in vegetation to provide experience in
wildland firefighting.
16 Emergency Response To
Electric Vehicles (FSTEP)
Fundamental emergency response procedures for the new electric-powered automobile technology.
8
FIRE ENGINEER TRAINING AND CERTIFICATION
COURSE NAME DESCRIPTION HOURS
Fire Apparatus Driver/Operator 1A
Emergency Vehicle Operations 40
Fire Apparatus Driver/Operator 1B
Pump Operations 40
FIRE OFFICER TRAINING AND CERTIFICATION
COURSE NAME DESCRIPTION HOURS
Fire Command 1A Command Principles for Company Officers 40
Fire Command 1B Hazardous Materials Command Principles for Company Officers
40 Fire Command 1C Wildland Command Principles for Company Officers 40
Fire Instructor 1A Instructional Techniques, Part 1 40
Fire Instructor 1B Instructional Techniques, Part 2 40
Fire Investigation 1A Fire Origin and Cause Determination 40
Fire Management 1 Management/Supervision for Company Officers 40
Fire Prevention 1A Fire Inspection Practices 40
Fire Prevention 1B Code Enforcement 40
I-300 Intermediate ICS 32
CHIEF OFFICER TRAINING AND CERTIFICATION
COURSE NAME DESCRIPTION HOURS
Fire Command 2A Command Tactics at Major Fires 40
Fire Command 2B Management of Major Hazardous Materials Incidents 40
Fire Command 2C High Rise Fire Tactics 40
Fire Command 2D Planning for Large Scale Disasters 40
Fire Command 2E Wildland Fire Fighting Tactics 40
Fire Management 2A Organizational Development and Human Relations 40
Fire Management 2B Fire Service Financial Management 40
Fire Management 2C Personnel and Labor Relations 40
Fire Management 2D Master Planning 40
Fire Management 2E Contemporary Issues and Concepts 40
I-400 Advanced ICS 24
S-334 Strike Team Leader-Engine 16
S-339 Division/Group Supervisor 16
S-400 Incident Commander 24
S-401 Safety Officer 24
Hazardous Materials Incident Commander
Designed to meet OSHA requirements for those chief officers who will be Incident Commander at a major haz mat incident.
24
EXECUTIVE OFFICER DEVELOPMENT TRAINING
COURSE NAME DESCRIPTION HOURS
Fire Chiefs’ Executive Development
This course presents an executive development program designed for the new Fire Chief. Topics include: Self analysis (style and behavior identification), program justification, team building, structuring, organizing and managing, and working with politicians, city managers and department heads.
40
Fire Chiefs’ Orientation This course presents a facilitated orientation of
contemporary issues confronting today’s fire chief. There is a California focus, with an emphasis on networking and problem solving. This is a dynamic course with topics changing yearly to reflect changing issues.
40
Designing And Evaluating Standards Of Cover For Emergency Response
This course provides information on the factors involved in the placement of stations and deployment of apparatus according to contemporary standards in the U.S. Fire Service, methods of analyzing effectiveness and efficiency of both new and existing station locations, methods of conducting and quantifying risk assessment for structures, area conditions, and emergency management areas.
40
SPECIALIZED OPERATIONS TRAINING AND CERTIFICATION
COURSE NAME DESCRIPTION HOURS
Fire Control 5 (FSTEP) Aircraft Rescue And Fire Fighting
This course provides students with the methods and techniques necessary for crash fire rescue services at airports. Subjects include: Utilizing conventional fire and specialized CFR apparatus, CFR extinguishing agents, types of aircraft, standby procedures, aqueous film forming foam, dual agent systems, and operations at crash scenes. The 24-hour class delivery includes a live burn.
24
Rescue Systems 1 (FSTEP) Basic Heavy Rescue
Key topics include: Team organization, rescue and environmental considerations, use of ropes, knots, rigging and pulley systems, descending, rappelling, and belaying tools and techniques, subsurface rescue techniques, use of cribbing, wedges, cutting/prying and hydraulic tools, use of fire service ladders in specialized rescue situations, and day and night simulated rescue exercises.
40
Rescue Systems 2 (FSTEP) Advanced Rescue Skills
Provides advanced heavy rescue system techniques. Key topics include structural building types, wood and
mechanical shores, crib capacities, floor weight calculations, building search, confined space considerations, damaged structure hazard assessment, use of small power and hand tools, air bags, and USAR ICS.
40
Confined Space Rescue Awareness (FSTEP)
This course provides instruction in identifying a permit and non-permit required confined space, and the hazards associated with confined spaces.
7
Confined Space Rescue Operations (FSTEP)
This course provides information to identify confined spaces and permit-required confined spaces, evaluate hazardous atmospheres, determine adequate levels of personal
protection, techniques needed for hazard mitigation, identify basic operational positions, understand responsibilities set by CAL-OSHA, and prepare for confined space rescue operations.
32
Trench Rescue (FSTEP) This course is designed to train fire service personnel in hands-on application of the techniques necessary to safely effect a rescue from an excavation or trenching cave-in.
Topics include: Critical considerations while responding to trenching emergencies, evaluation of cave-in scenes, basic life support procedures and temporary protection for victims, specialized tool usage, shoring techniques, and below grade rescue safety procedures.
24
Swiftwater Rescue (FSTEP) 24
River And Flood Water Rescue (FSTEP)
This course is intended for the training of fire service personnel in water rescue techniques. Topics include: Swift water rescue, submerged vehicles, drownings, use of engine/truck company equipment for water rescue, use of rafts and boats, and underwater search and recovery.
16
Personal Watercraft Rescue Operations (FSTEP)
This course provides the skills needed to operate a personal watercraft (PWC) and perform rescue in river and flood situations. Safety, course philosophy, and PWC terminology are covered. “In water” experience for students include how to read dynamics flow for safety travel, perform self rescue and victim rescue operations, along with executing pre/post-inspections of the PWC.
16
Hazardous Materials Technician
NOTE: CSFM Certification Courses in hazardous materials (Specialist and Technician) are given through OES’
California State Training Institute (CSTI)
160
Hazardous Materials Specialist NOTE: CSFM Certification Courses in hazardous materials (Specialist and Technician) are given through OES’
California State Training Institute (CSTI)
80
ADVANCED INSTRUCTOR TRAINING AND CERTIFICATION
COURSE NAME DESCRIPTION HOURS
Fire Instructor 2A Techniques of Evaluation 40
Fire Instructor 2B Group Discussion Techniques 40
Fire Instructor 2C Employing Audio/Visual Aids 40
Fire Instructor 3 Master Instructor 40
Rescue Systems 1 Instructor Course
This course provides the potential instructor with an overview of the course, criteria for building teaching props, safety considerations for the instructor and student, useful tips and insight for course delivery, instructional criteria and requirements.
40
ADVANCED FIRE PREVENTION & INSPECTION TRAINING & CERTIFICATION
COURSE NAME DESCRIPTION HOURS
Fire Prevention 1C Flammable Liquids and Gasses 40
Fire Prevention 2A Fire Protection Systems and Building Components 40 Fire Prevention 2B Interpreting the UBC and CCR – Title 19 and Title 24 40
Fire Prevention 2C Special Hazard Occupancies 40
Fire Prevention 3A Hydraulic Sprinkler Calculations 40
Fire Prevention 3B Plan Checking 40
(FSTEP) Motion Picture and Television Fire Safety Officer 24
(FSTEP) OSFM California Building Code 24