Firefighter Training Laws & Regulations
Firefighters play a vital role in keeping cities and communities safe. These public servants are in most communities. Laws governing how much training they must receive, who ensures compliance with any standards, and screening of applicants vary from state to state, and even from city to city. While there are no national requirements, there are some general training laws and regulations common in many areas.-
Governing Agencies
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Some states have governmental organizations or governing bodies that supervise firefighter training, screening and hiring. For example, the state of Illinois has a board of fire commissioners responsible for hiring and evaluating fire fighters. Since each community has its own fire commission, each determines how many firefighters it needs, how much education they need, and how to train them. Further, the state fire marshal oversees all firefighter training schools, and determines what classes trainees must take.
Education
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Some states establish training requirements each applicant must meet before working as a firefighter. For example, Tennessee requires firefighters to attend a 16-hour class developed by the Tennessee Fire Service and Codes Enforcement Authority before they can respond to emergency calls. Also, within three years of joining the fire department, they must complete a basic firefighter class as determined by the Tennessee Fire and Codes Academy. The state excuses from these requirements any firefighter with five or more years experience.
Fitness
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Firefighting is a tough job, requiring applicants to have good stamina, strength and endurance. Many fire departments evaluate applicants and trainees to measure their levels of fitness. For example, the Houston Fire Department has a job-related fitness test using practical skills a firefighter may face on the job to evaluate their performance. The test measures seven timed events on a pass/fail basis. These are a 1.5 mile run, a stair climb, ladder extension, balance beam walk, equipment hoist, carrying portable equipment, and rescuing a person. They must perform all tasks while wearing an air pack and gloves.
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