The Society of Fire Protection Engineers has been awarded a $144,000 Fire Prevention and Firefighters Safety grant under the Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program to develop college-level courses, guides and a distance-learning program.

SFPE will develop three college-level courses in the subject of fire protection engineering for colleges throughout the United States that offer fire science programs at the associate’s and bachelor’s degree levels.

“These fire science programs provide our nation’s firefighter’s the opportunity to pursue college-level learning,” said Chris Jelenewicz, SFPE engineering program manager. “The curricula developed by SFPE will provide fire science students with a firm understanding of the fundamental engineering principals that are used to design ways to protect people from fire.”

As part of its grant activities, SFPE will also develop two engineering guides. One will summarize methods that predict fire hazards and another will provide a framework for conducting fire risk assessments.

SFPE will also develop a Web-based distance learning program for the fire service on the topic of fire risk assessment.

“In this nation, far too many individuals lose their lives or are injured by fire. Among these victims are firefighters, who provide emergency response services to their fellow residents,” said U.S. Fire Administrator R. David Paulison. “The nation’s firefighters and American homes are safer today through this important grant program.”