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Basic Fire Safety Training

Several basic fire safety training resources exist online, letting you learn from your own home. Courses exist for various levels of experience, so you can continue learning online after you've mastered the basics, such as fire extinguisher use and fire evacuation. Even the basics vary depending on the situation and surroundings, such as work vs. home, so training opportunities for each major situation are provided.

  1. Fire Extinguisher Use

    • Knowing the proper use of a fire extinguisher enables you to stave off a fire whether it occurs in the home, workplace, outdoors or while traveling. Interactive Learning Paradigms Inc. offers a free short course, "Fire Safety and Fire Extinguishers," that covers the various types of fire extinguishers, when and how to use each type and fire extinguisher care. Oklahoma State University offers a similar free short course, "Fire Extinguisher Training," that covers the composition of fire (also known as the fire triangle), fuel classifications, fire extinguisher types, fire-fighting basics and fire extinguisher use.

    Residential Fire Safety

    • The U.S. Fire Administration, or USFA, offers several free learning opportunities related to home fire safety. The topics covered include smoke alarms, residential fire sprinklers and fire extinguishers, evacuation planning, arson awareness, high-rise residences and manufactured homes. Another government site, Firesafety.gov, provides basic educational materials on smoke alarms, fire sprinklers, fire safety, carbon monoxide poisoning and escape planning.

    Workplace Fire Safety

    • The Occupational Health and Safety Administration, or OSHA, provides a comprehensive workplace fire training tool, the Fire Safety Advisor 1.0a. This interactive program is available online or it can be downloaded. The downloaded program runs in a Microsoft Windows environment. The user answers program queries about the building and standard work practices that teach OSHA's fire safety standards. The program leads the user through compliance reviews, creating "Emergency Action Plans" and "Fire Prevention Plans," and generating a custom copy of applicable OSHA regulations.

    Outdoor Fire Safety

    • The USFA offers free online training materials on wildfire and grilling fires. The venerable Smokey the Bear character educates citizens about outdoor fire safety, including wildfires. The site includes safety tips on debris, lanterns and camp stoves, trashing burning and charcoal.

    Travel Fire Safety

    • The USFA offers free online training materials on fire in hotels and motels for travelers. The city of Seattle, Washington, provides an electronic book for hotel and motel staff on fire safety basics, including situational awareness. It's an easy read that could also benefit travelers.

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