Fire Sciences

Overview

The Fire Sciences Department (FIRE) provides training and education for students wishing to begin a career in the fire service, attain a higher level of education, and/or prepare for career advancement.

The Fire Protection Technology, AAS degree is designed to prepare those students wishing to enter the fire protection career as entry-level firefighters. It is a skills and certification-based program that prepares a student with the education, certifications, and affiliation, valued by fire service leaders.

Learning Outcomes:

General Education Learning Outcomes

Program Learning Outcomes

Graduates of the Fire Protection Technology degree program will be able to:

Understand how hostile fire conditions develop that threaten the public and emergency responders.
Understand how various work environments can effect development of hostile fire conditions.
Efficiently utilize tactical resources and effective methods of deployment in responding to a variety of emergency incidents.
Possess a knowledge and skill set that allows them to be effective in preventing hostile fire emergencies occurring in their community.

Program Admissions:

Please apply at Enrollment Services . Enrollment in the program is limited to 36 students entering each September. Selection is on a first-come, first served basis from an “interest” list. Students may enter the program only at the beginning of Fall Quarter. Winter and/or Spring quarter entry is based on prior experience and Department Chair permission. All students must meet with the Fire Protection Technology Department Chair for an orientation prior to registration.

Firefighter courses can be physically demanding. Students must be medically and physically fit to participate. Students will be subject to a background evaluation. Once accepted into the program, the following requirements must be met:

Complete an Illegal Substance-Drug Screen and Criminal Background check. This is based on emergency medical industry standards and Washington State laws protecting vulnerable populations (RCW 43.43.880 and 43.43.842). This practice is common among colleges and universities in Washington State and is required by clinical agencies where students complete their clinical experiences.
Complete a Department of Motor Vehicle violation check. This check is used for training and counseling purposes to determine suitability to gain employment in the fire service.
Complete and pass a physical/medical evaluation by a physician approved by the program, confirming physical ability to perform structural firefighting activities in compliance with WAC 296- 305-0159(7)(b).
Costs associated with criminal background check, drug screen, motor vehicle violation check and physical/medical evaluations are the responsibility of the student.

Admission to individual classes for those students not in the Fire Protection Technology (FIRE) program is by Department Chair approval only. Prerequisites for all Fire Protection Technology classes must be met before enrolling in that specific FIRE class.

Admission to individual classes for those students not in the Fire Service Administration program is by Department Chair approval only. Prerequisites for all Fire Service Administration classes must be met before enrolling in that specific class.

Specialized Program Information:

Work-Based Learning

Students will integrate classroom learning with work-based learning experience in Fire Service Internship (FIRE 199 ) at a supervised work site. Department Chair approval is required. Credits and grades are based on job-hours worked, work performance and completion of the learning objectives specified in the learning contract.

Degree Option:

Fire Protection Technology, AAS

The Associate in Applied Science Degree, AAS is awarded upon completion of a minimum of 90 credits of specified technical and related education course work above the 100 level, with both an overall 2.0 grade point average and a 2.0 grade point average in the technical major.

The Fire Protection Technology (FIRE) program is designed to prepare the student for an entry-level career as a firefighter for private, municipal, industrial, state, and federal fire departments. Typical duties of firefighters may include responding to emergencies and performing work to save lives, stabilize emergency situations, reduce loss of property and improve public safety.

Firefighters additionally inspect, examine and care for emergency apparatus and equipment and perform routine maintenance to restore apparatus to a response-ready condition.

Fire Protection Technology is a systematic and organized inquiry into the occurrence of fire and its control. It is about gaining a deeper and useful understanding of fire’s development, strategies used by the fire service to prevent its occurrence and lessen its impact, and methods employed to combat it. It is also about understanding a complex vocation that calls upon its members to perform unusually challenging tasks under virtually any condition with little room for error-or better, adapting to the unforgiving culture of a critical public safety industry.

The training of students to become career firefighters is a key component of the Fire Protection Technology program. Subjects included in the program help to improve the firefighter’s use of knowledge, tools and systems to improve their career opportunities and the lives of those who they serve.

Programs

Associate Degrees: Workforce

Intended to give students the skills needed to move directly into employment.

Fire Protection Technology, AAS

Micro-Certificates

Typically two quarters or less, micro-certificates are focused on providing training in a specific skill.