GVFD - Probationary School

GVFD Banner

Chiefs & Assistants

Board of Control/
Relief Association

National Safety & Training Links

Other VFD Links

Probationary School

Go to GVFD Home

GREENSBURG FIRE ACADEMY PROBATIONARY SCHOOL
2011 SCHEDULE

Fire Training

The Greensburg Probationary School includes the entire Pennsylvania State Fire Academy Essentials of Firefighting curriculum: Introduction to the Fire Service, Fireground Support, Exterior Firefighter and Interior Firefighter. ProbationarySchool also includes a First Aid class, a CPR/AED class, a PA Fish & Boat Comm. Swift Water Rescue Awareness class and a Structural Firefighting: Live Burn Session (SBS) class.

All classroom work will take place at Greensburg Hose Company No. 1. Practical skills will take place at the Greensburg Drill Tower at Lynch Field or at the Westmoreland County Community College Public Safety Training Center (PSTC) in Smithton.

The Essentials curriculum will culminate with an integrated “live burn” in the gas-fired simulator at the PSTC as part of the fourth course. In addition, a separate Structural Firefighting class (SBS) will occur in June at the Class A Burn Building at the PSTC following completion of the Essentials curriculum.

Upon successful completion of the Probationary School, with the exception of Hazardous Materials Operations level training, all graduates will have completed their prerequisites for Firefighter I certification testing.

Introduction to the Fire Service (16 Hours)
This course is designed to introduce new firefighters to basic information including an overview of the fire service, fire service organization, firefighter safety, personal protective equipment, and terrorism awareness. This is the first of four courses in the curriculum.

Swift Water Rescue Awareness (3 Hours)
This course is credentialed through the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission. It familiarizes the students with the unique hazards and complications of swift water rescue that they may encounter due to flash flood situations and trains them to the awareness level.

Fireground Support (48 Hours)
This course is designed to introduce new firefighters to fireground operation including fire behavior, fire extinguishers, water supply, fire hose, ropes, and hazardous materials. This is the second of four courses in the curriculum.

Exterior Firefighter (42 Hours)
This course is designed to introduce new firefighters to exterior fireground operation including building construction, ladders, communications, protective systems/sprinklers, forcible entry, and fire prevention. This is the third of four courses in the curriculum.

Interior Firefighter (60 Hours)
This course is designed to introduce new firefighters to interior fireground operations, including nozzles and streams, SCBA, rescue, ventilation, fire suppression, salvage, and firefighter survival. This is the fourth of four courses in the curriculum.

2011 Greensburg Probationary School Schedule

Introduction to the Fire Service: 6:00 to 10:00 p.m.
Jan 4	History Tradition Fire Service
Jan 6	FD Organization and Command/FF Safety
Jan 11	Personal Protective Equipment
Jan 13	Terrorism Awareness & TEST
Jan 15	WATER RESCUE AWARENESS (SATURDAY)

Fireground Support: 6:00 to 10:00 p.m.
Jan 18	Fire Behavior
Jan 20	Water Supply
Jan 22	Portable Extinguishers (SATURDAY)
Jan 25	Hose 1
Jan 27	Hose 2
Feb 1	Hose 3
Feb 3	Hose 4
Feb 5	(Weather make up day ONLY if needed)
Feb 8	Ropes and Knots - Haz Mat - laws intro
Feb 10	Ropes and Knots - Hauling
Feb 12	(Weather make up day ONLY if needed)
Feb 15	*Haz Mat R&I
Feb 17	Information Resources
Feb 19	Haz Mat PPE; Review & TEST (SATURDAY)

Exterior Firefighter: 6:00 to 10:30 p.m.
Feb 22	Communications & Alarms
Feb 24	Building Protective Systems 1
Mar 1	Building Protective Systems 2
Mar 3	Building Construction
Mar 5	(Weather make up day ONLY if needed)
Mar 8	Forcible Entry 1
Mar 10	Forcible Entry 2 & Fire Prevention
Mar 12	(Weather make up day ONLY if needed)
Mar 13	...DAYLIGHT SAVINGS...
Mar 15	Ladders 1
Mar 17	Ladders 2
Mar 29	Ladders 3 (SATURDAY)
Mar 22	Ladders 4
Mar 24	Summary, Review & TEST (2 hrs)
Mar 26	(Weather make up day ONLY if needed)

Interior Firefighter: 6:00 to 10:30 p.m.
Mar 29	SCBA 1
Mar 31	SCBA 2 & Rescue Procedures 1
Apr 5	Rescue Procedures 2
Apr 7	Rescue Procedures 3
Apr 12	Nozzles Streams 1 (Practical)
Apr 14	Fire Suppression – Wet Line Drills (Practical)
Apr 16	Salvage Overhaul 1 (SATURDAY)
Apr 19	Salvage Overhaul 2
	...EASTER BREAK...
Apr 26	Ventilation 1
Apr 28	Ventilation 2
May 3	DRILLTOWER INTEGRATED PRACTICAL EXERCISES
May 5	Review and TEST
May 7	Forcible Entry & Car Fire Practical PSTC (Smithton)
May 11	Wet Line Drills - Practical PSTC (Smithton)
May 12	Live Fire Integrated Burn PSTC (Smithton)
May 17	CPR
May 19	First Aid

Structural Burn Session (Class A Building)
Jun 1	SBS Classroom (WEDNESDAY)
Jun 3	SBS Wet Line Drills PSTC (Smithton)
Jun 5	SBS LIVE FIRE - Class A Building - PSTC (Smithton)