A new six-day course to give Incident Commanders an understanding of the fire protection features that are installed in buildings will kick off during the Volunteer Incentive Program June 12- 17, 2005 at the USFA National Fire Academy in Emmitsburg, Md.

Fire Protection Systems for Incident Commanders (R827) will explain how the proper use of fire protection systems will assist Incident Commanders in achieving strategic and tactical success. The course emphasizes the value of collecting this information during pre-incident planning and how to utilize this knowledge to function effectively using these systems under emergency conditions.

Topics addressed in this course include developing model pre-incident plans; the importance of collecting and sharing information with other emergency responders; and understanding the fundamental operations, strengths and limitations of built-in fire protection features including fire walls, automatic sprinklers, standpipes, fire pumps, fire detection and alarm systems, smoke management systems, special hazard and integrated fire protection features.

Students who attend this course are asked to bring one of their community's pre-incident plans to share with the rest of the class. The course final project will be to develop a mock company or battalion-level training session using the pre-incident plans.

The course also will be offered during upcoming VIP programs and as a Resident course beginning in 2006.

Student Selection Criteria: Anyone responsible for the command and control of incident operations, preferably in the built environment. The target audience includes command officers, company officers and those acting in that capacity. In addition, those officers who are upwardly mobile in their organizations, and will or may be in command positions in the near future are eligible upon approval of their chief.

In addition, up to five vacancies in each class offering will be reserved for applicants whose are responsible for code enforcement, or the inspection, testing and maintenance of fire protection systems. This will give Incident Commanders and code enforcement authorities the opportunity to share information.

Download Registration Information.