Learn What It Takes to Launch a Firefighter Career in Ontario

Any college curriculum that includes input from professional organizations in the field offers additional benefits for a number of reasons. First, it signals to employers that the program is endorsed by respected organizations. Secondly, it ensures that students are obtaining totally up-to-date knowledge. Thirdly, a curriculum with input from professional organizations give students the opportunity to network with the men and women whom will become their peers once they graduate.

One Centennial College program with a curriculum that was approved by a professional organization is the firefighter program known as Pre-service Firefighter Education and Training. It focuses on offering students theory and practical training that is in accordance with the approved curriculum developed by the Ontario Association of Fire Chiefs (OAFC) and the Ontario Office of the Fire Marshal (OFM).

As such, students are exposed to the full array of topics that they will need to be eligible to write the Ontario Fire Marshal Provincial testing. Some fire departments now require or prefer applicants who have completed the Pre-service Firefighter Education and Training program before hiring. It is expected that the program will increasingly become a minimum criterion for fire service hiring.

Each firefighter course in this offering contains some form of hands-on practice, small group-teaching scenarios and simulation training under the guidance of qualified instructors. Additionally, students develop skills in fire suppression, rescue operations and environmental protection, through the training facilities at Toronto Fire Services and Centennial's state-of-the-art patient care lab. Lastly, students gain practical experience in various activities such as "live fire burns" at the City of Toronto's Fire Training Academy and the Emergency Patient Care at Centennial's Healthcare Simulation Centre at Morningside Campus.

Thanks to coverage that includes topics such as: fire equipment, fire suppression, fire ground operations fitness, rescue operations, fire safety inspection, professional preparation, fitness and more, students graduate with the ability to:

• After identifying personal and professional developmental resources or activities, use them to promote growth and contribute to lifelong learning;
• Beware of and live up to ethical, legal and safety requirements of professionals in the fire service industry;
• Use safe practices and techniques when handling fire department apparatus, tools and equipment;
• Confidently, professionally and using empathy, interact with others in a variety of emergency and non-emergency situations;
• Demonstrate respect and care when communicating effectively with diverse communities and their members;
• Use effective and appropriate problem-solving and decision-making skills in emergency and non-emergency situations;
• Work effectively with other members of the fire service team, pre-hospital emergency care providers and other emergency service-related groups to provide comprehensive service in emergency and non-emergency situations;
• And more

Pre Service Firefighter Education and Training Gives Graduates An Advantage

The job of firefighter is complex. It involves not only extinguishing hazardous fires that threaten property and civilian or natural populations but also rescuing people from dangerous situations, like collapsed or burning buildings.

Today, many fire departments require or prefer applicants who have completed a firefighter program prior to applying. Centennial College's Pre-service Firefighter Education and Training program is one such undertaking. It focuses on offering students theory and practical training that is in accordance with the approved curriculum developed by the Ontario Association of Fire Chiefs (OAFC) and the Ontario Office of the Fire Marshal (OFM). This is achieved through lectures and practical courses that include simulation training under the guidance of qualified instructors and practical experience in various activities such as “live fire burns” at the City of Toronto's Fire Training Academy and the Emergency Patient Care at Centennial's Healthcare Simulation Centre.

Here is a closer look at some of the courses in this program.

Fire Ground Operations: The Incident Management Systems is introduced through content that address the observational, assessment, problem solving and decision making skills required by firefighters. Students are also familiarized with the role of the firefighter en route to the fire scene and at the fire scene, fire cause determination, fire scene security and post-incident analysis and review.

Emergency Patient Care: Students get an overview of the Ontario emergency medical care system with emphasis on the specific role and responsibilities of the firefighter emergency patient care responders and the teamwork essential to the effectiveness of the EMS response. Included are legislation, regulations, standards, and established policies, procedures and protocols as well the role of members of the emergency response team and the specific role of the firefighter emergency care responder.

Fire Equipment: Firefighters must be fully versed in the equipment they use to fight fires, not only for their safety but the safety of those on the scene. As such, this course first examines the anatomy of a fire and then the purpose, types, uses and limitations of protective clothing. For this aspect, students get to try out personal protective clothing and equipment including maintaining, storing, cleaning and inspecting. They also look at the breathing apparatus and its component parts; common ropes and knots used to raise and lower firefighter equipment in emergency and non-emergency situations; types and sizes of ladders used in the fire service and different methods used in carrying, raising, climbing and working on ground ladders; lighting equipment and its operation in order to provide illumination of the scene; and more.

Fire Suppression: Split into two parts, the first course focuses on the design and components of municipal water supply systems and rural water supplies, as well as the types and operation of hydrants and methods of determining flow. It also specifies considerations, procedures and precautions necessary to successfully extinguish the four classes of fire and compressed gas cylinder fires. The second, meanwhile, defines ventilation as it applies to the fire service and describes the concepts, types, procedures, precautions, and equipment associated with ventilation operations.

After completing each firefighter course, students are eligible to write the Ontario Fire Marshal Provincial testing.

Firefighter Program Offers Solid Base

Centennial College’s firefighter courses within its Pre-Service Firefighter Education and Training are a great way to ensure that you have the knowledge and requirements to confidently apply for a position with your local fire department. That’s because this type of undertaking is increasingly becoming minimum criterion for fire service hiring. The best part is that the firefighter program takes just three semesters to complete and results in an Ontario College Certificate.

Applicants to the firefighter program are required to have completed at minimum an Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD) or equivalent or be 19 years of age or older. Also required are compulsory English Grade 12 C or U, or equivalent; math Grade 11 or 12, C or U, or equivalent; and one Science Grade 11 or 12  (Physics, Chemistry, Biology or Exercise Science) C or U, or equivalent (minimum grade required). Additionally, there is a host of non-academic requirements, among which are: filling out a self-identifying questionnaire, demonstrating the ability to wear a breathing apparatus, producing a medical certificate indicating the ability to perform the duties of a firefighter. Lastly, in order to obtain a career as a firefighter, many municipal fire services may also require further qualifications, including: 20/30 vision in each eye without corrective lenses, satisfactory completion of a colour vision assessment, normal and unaided hearing, no conviction for a criminal offense for which a pardon has not been granted, and possession of a Class DZ driver license.

Once accepted, students attend firefighter courses that are in accordance with the approved curriculum developed by the Ontario Association of the Fire Chiefs (OAFC) and the Ontario Office of the Fire Marshal (OFM). Among these courses are: Introduction to Fire Service, Fire Ground Operations, Emergency Patient Care, Fire Equipment, Fire Suppression, Fitness and more. Through the firefighter courses, students also benefit from simulation training under the guidance of qualified instructors, while enjoying ample time in smaller group-teaching scenarios. To round out training, firefighter program students attend a Firefighter Pre-Graduate experience that provides them with an opportunity to integrate knowledge and skills learned in the previous two semesters and to apply them during intensive practice of basic fire fighting skills in a simulated environment, including live fire. Students also gain better insight into the role of the fire fighter, the operations of the fire service and other related emergency services.

Upon completion of the firefighter program, students have the know-how to take the Ontario Fire Marshal Provincial Testing.  As such, they are able to: demonstrate the culminating role performance in fire suppression, community education and fire prevention, firefighter emergency patient care, environmental protection and special rescue operations; meet the ethical, legal and safety requirements of professionals in the fire service industry; use safe practices and techniques with fire department apparatus, tools and equipment; communicate effectively using verbal, non-verbal, written or electronic methods including recognized and appropriate fire service terminology; work effectively with other members of the fire service team, pre-hospital emergency care providers and other emergency service-related groups to provide comprehensive service in emergency and non-emergency situations; and more.