Fire Science

Certificate of Recognition

This program is designed for those fire entry level firefighter personnel who have a solid foundation in basic firefighting skills. Students can increase and further hone their job skills in a shorter period of time, specific to a higher job skill demand in Olympic College’s Firefighter Intern/Resident Program. Student may receive a Certificate of Recognition in Fire Science upon satisfactory completion of all requirements outlined below.

Students must complete 19 credits with a grade point average of 2.0 or above.

Not all courses are offered every quarter. Please see an appropriate faculty advisor or Division Dean for course sequence and schedule details. A faculty advisor must approve the program for degree/certificate completion.

Program Outcomes

Upon completion of this program, successful students will have demonstrated the ability to apply their skills and knowledge in the following ways:

1.     Explain the fundamental mission of the fire service.

2.     List the typical services provided by the fire department.

3.     Describe the basic fundamentals of customer service.

4.     Explain the purpose of standard operating procedures used in the fire department.

5.     Explain the systems used in fire alarms and communication for the fire service.

6.     Explain the differences between a community college certificate, an associate degree, and a four-year degree in fire technology.

7.     Give examples of work ethics.

8.     Explain the need for sensitivity to diversity inside and outside the workplace.

9.     Give examples of different types of personnel development programs.

10.   Explain the purpose and importance of the probationary period.

11.   Identify fire protection jobs in the public and private fire service.

12.   List duties and requirements of the position of firefighter trainee and firefighter.

13.   List duties and requirements of the position of firefighter/paramedic.

14.   Give examples of fire service jobs other than firefighter.

15.   Describe the six principles of command.

16.   List and describe the fire components of the management cycle.

17.   Describe the fire department chain of command.

18.   Fill out a typical fire department organizational chart.

19.   Identify different fire department types.

20.   Identify different ranks and their general responsibilities.

21.   Describe the importance of fire prevention.

22.   Describe the activities performed by a fire prevention bureau.

23.   List methods of public education as it relates to fire prevention.

24.   Explain how the authority to enforce fire prevention regulations is derived.

25.   Describe the importance of fire information reporting.

26.   List the uses of fire-related statistics.

27.   Explain the need for a plan at every incident.

28.   Differentiate between offensive, defensive and combination modes of attack.

29.   Explain the need for organized thought processes in incident assessment.

30.   Describe the strategic priorities at an incident.

31.   Explain the term strategy, tactics, and tasks.

32.   Explain the need for size up of an incident.

33.   Explain how a size up is performed and what information is necessary to communicate.

34.   Describe the MIMS Incident Command System.

35.   Explain the need for unified command on a multi-jurisdictional incident.

ADVISOR          OFFICE                  PHONE

Rogers, Larry      Science & Technology 110   360-475-7722

REQUIRED COURSES                               CREDITS 

F-FS    100   Introduction to Fire Protection______________ 2 

F-FS    111   Fundamentals of Firefighting*________________ 6 

F-FS    113   Intermed Firefighting Fundamentals*__________ 5 

F-FS    115   Advanced Firefighting Fundamentals*__________ 4 

F-FS    124   Hazmat Materials Response Ops/Level ++_______ 2 

TOTAL CREDITS REQUIRED ____________________________ 19 

* See course description for prerequisite.

Source: 2007-2008 Olympic College Catalog