Incident command systems are often overdone or underdone. Cumbersome command practices that allow the building to burn down while command is “setup” are just as frustrating and problematic as the lack of strong direction and organization. Departments must avoid impractical command that slows or hampers putting the fire out, but must also avoid a lack of strong command that fails to organize the incident and aggressively deploy crews to solve the problem.

We’ll cover best practices incident commanders can use to maximize the capabilities of their firefighting forces. This course is designed for both chief officers, and company officers. A strong understanding of each other’s jobs and a mutual respect are imperative for any incident’s success. This program will serve as a forum for chiefs and officers to learn about each other’s roles, the jobs of each within the command system and practices that will – individually and as a team.

We will cover the critical decision making during the “first SCBA cylinder” worth of firefighting at our most common building types. The objective here is to discuss the common fire scenarios in single-family, multi-family/apartment, commercial, and mid/high rise structures. We will discuss each building and its common fire types along with which engine/truck company tactics are most effective and applicable to each scenario. The objective is to enhance the ability of company and chief officers to select the proper “tools from the toolbox” (skills + tactics) given the fire scenario that they face.

This program is highly personal and motivational and draws heavily on the instructor’s own experiences and tough lessons learned. It is the essential program to challenge mindsets, reenergize firefighters, lay the groundwork for an “excellence mindset,” and inspire passion in firefighters. We will explore what the “combat ready” mindset is, why it is essential for firefighting excellence, and how we can apply it at the individual,

company, and department levels.

Line Boss Leadership will focus on the mindset of a successful engine company, its staffing of the first line as well as addressing issues that arise on scene. There is no secret that the first line must be successfully placed and that comes with correct engine and crew readiness.

Students will follow Lt McCormack through a series of steps and tricks of the trade to ensure they have the most effective engine company!

This class is a deep dive into our mission and priorities.

Brothers In Battle instructor Justin McWilliams will cover our mission and why we must occupy the interior space FOR THEM

This course will provide actionable insights to the most important task on the fireground. Justin will highlight everything from the size-up to removal. They'll also cover the importance of training for search and rescue and what the data shows and fallacies to other critical data. Firefighter Rescue Survey will be talked about in depth and give perspectives on where and how to start our searches for THEM.

Success or failure on the fire ground for a ladder company is often measured by how well an aerial operator initially positions the apparatus. Ladder truck placement at an emergency scene is often the "make or break" moment for any operator. The individual skills and abilities of the aerial apparatus operator can dictate how successful a truck company will be in achieving their goals at a fire scene. Aerial apparatus are typically placed to allow members to work offensively in order to affect a rescue, gain entry to the upper floors of a structure, or to access the roof for vertical ventilation operations.

This program will give firefighters various considerations for stretching and operating interior and exterior vertical stretches. These alternate stretches place water on the fire faster and more effectively than thetraditional interior “on the stair” stretch.

This course is designed to give fire fighters the skills to promote

positive culture in the fire house. A culture that promotes leadership, professionalism, operational proficiency and goal setting.

In the fire service we have a gap in our career development once we get off probation. As an industry, we don’t have a defined process for making the top step fire fighter. This course will start the groundwork for how we should be thinking, preparing and protecting the culture of the Top Step Firefighter.

The Top Step is an organization of thoughts and methods that we have derived from The Nozzle Forward methodology, Military indoctrination and past experiences.