Fire Academy

Fire Academy

The Fire Academy at Lake Tahoe Community College is offered through partnerships with the Lake Valley Fire Protection District, South Lake Tahoe Fire Rescue, Eastern Alpine County Fire Rescue, and Tahoe Douglas Fire Protection District. Lake Tahoe Community College is recognized by the California State Fire Marshal and the State Board of Fire Services as an Accredited Regional Training Program (ARTP).
 
The Fire Academy is offered in an extended three-quarter format (fall, winter and spring). This enables students to maintain employment while preparing for a career in fire service. The Fire Academy is held September through June. Classes are held on Mondays and Saturdays (7:30am to 5:30pm) with occasional changes, plus, 21 hours TBA. The Academy's required 80% academic standard and intense physical requirements are rigorous. Candidates need to be aware that the program places extraordinary demands on time and resources. Students are required to have reliable transportation since the majority of the classes meet at various off campus training facilities, up to 35 miles from the college campus. 
 
 

What do I get when I complete the Fire Academy?

You will receive a certificate of completion for the training hours required by the State Fire Marshal's Office for Firefighter I, along with Fire Service Training & Education Program (FSTEP) certificates in several areas. After completing the program, you must successfully pass the Firefighter 1 Certification Examination. You will then be able to apply for certification after successful completion of a task book and experience requirement, one year as a volunteer or reserve firefighter or six months as a full-time paid firefighter.

What is the Firefighter I Certification Examination?

Anyone completing the Firefighter I program must complete a skills and written examination process before becoming certified. The evaluators for the testing process must be certified by the California State Fire Training and must be different than the instructors who taught at your fire academy.

Where do I sign up?

A mandatory orientation meeting is held during summer quarter and must precede enrollment. Students must attend in order to be eligible for registration. Based on student demand for the program, a lottery system for available seats will be conducted.

  • When: Wednesday, August 7, 2019
  • Time: 6pm - 10pm
  • Location On Campus: Board/Aspen L103/L104
  • Reservations not required
  • Questions? Contact Jamie Rhone at (530) 541-4660 x 583

We’d love to have you join us at Lake Tahoe Community College. To learn more, please email our Fire Academy Coordinator Leona Allen to set up a meeting and bring copies of prerequisites documentation. Please refer to specific requirements below.

 
Program Learning Outcomes
• Demonstrate effective and safe operation of fire service tools and equipment.
• Identify and properly use various fire appliances and nozzles, and demonstrate effective hose rolling techniques.
• Identify, maintain and utilize various types of ladders used in the fire service.
• Demonstrate proficiency in the donning and doffing of self-contained breathing apparatus.
• Identify various forcible entry tools and describe their use.
• Operate within the Incident Command System (ICS).
• Apply appropriate critical thinking and skills in the assessment of illness and/or injury of a person involved in an emergency situation and
apply emergency treatment principles and techniques.
 
 
Prerequisites
• A minimum of 21 hours of Public Safety First Aid and CPR certification as documented   in the California Health and Safety Code 1797.182. 

• Courses at LTCC that exceed this prerequisite include HEA106, HEA140C, and WLD107B.  Prerequisites will be verified by the instructor before the first day of class. Please bring a copy of your prerequisites documentation to the SUMMER MANDATORY LTBFA Orientation. 

• Completion of HEA106 (Emergency Medical Responder) or EMR card, OR Completion of HEA140C (Emergency Medical Technician) with a "B" or better or equivalent EMT course certificate of completion.

•  A physician's clearance is required for participation.
 
Degree

A. GENERAL EDUCATION REQUIREMENT
See current catalog for details.

B. REQUIRED COURSES

All courses from the following (46.75 units):
FIR 170A Lake Tahoe Basin Fire Academy, Part 1 (12)
FIR 170B Lake Tahoe Basin Fire Academy, Part 2 (12)
FIR 170C Lake Tahoe Basin Fire Academy, Part 3 (12)
HEA 140C Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) (10.75)

C. ELECTIVE UNITS to bring the total to 90.

 

Certificate

A. REQUIRED COURSES:

All courses from the following (46.75 units):
FIR 170A Lake Tahoe Basin Fire Academy, Part 1 (12)
FIR 170B Lake Tahoe Basin Fire Academy, Part 2 (12)
FIR 170C Lake Tahoe Basin Fire Academy, Part 3 (12)
HEA 140C Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) (10.75)

View Pathway to Completion - Fire Academy Certificate