California State Fire Training Homepage
California State Fire Training (SFT) is the OSFM division that establishes, develops, and delivers standardized training and education for the California fire service. The State Fire Training website serves as a valuable resource and a one-stop-shop for all things related to the State Fire Training. Check this website regularly as content is updated periodically or follow us on social media.
Latest News and Bulletins
Info Bulletin: Employment Type
Published: March 2023
State Fire Training (SFT) has required that the Course Return roster include the student employment type. SFT utilizes this data to gain insight into who is using the SFT System and to steer new curriculum and program improvement projects.
Employment type is self-reported by the student and is not required to be verified by the Registered Primary Instructor or Host Agency. Rosters that do not include employment type may be rejected by SFT, potentially causing delays to the issuance of diplomas.
Refer to the June 2021 Information Bulletin (PDF) for more information.
Interim Procedure: Recognized Fire Department
Published: March 2023
SFT requires authorized signers to initiate and approve Certification Task Books, in addition to signing Letters of Verification required for instructor and evaluator registration. SFT maintains a record of these authorized signers in a Recognized Fire Agency database. Based upon guidance from the Statewide Training and Education Advisory Committee (STEAC), SFT has clarified the qualifications and procedures for recognized fire agencies and authorized signers.
Additionally, all California Fire Departments and Fire Districts must prove their authority to SFT by December 31, 2024. SFT will not accept an authorized signer from any fire department or fire agency that has not provided their proof of authority by the deadline.
Agencies can submit their proof of authority and update authorized signers via the SFT User Portal webform. Instructions can be viewed at the Information Bulletin (PDF).
Marine Fire Fighting for Land-Based Fire Fighters (2019) Curriculum and Certification
Published: March 2023
The Marine Fire Fighting for Land-Based Fire Fighters curriculum and certification has been developed to ensure an effective and coordinated response to marine incidents across the state’s waterways. It is aligned with the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 1005: Professional Qualifications Standards for Marine Fire Fighting for Land-Based Fire Fighters and the United States Coast Guard (USCG) best practices.
Incident Safety for Agricultural Lands and Livestock Producers Curriculum
Published: March 2023
The Incident Safety for Agricultural Land and Livestock Producers FSTEP course provides information for all qualifying livestock producers or managerial employees, as defined by a California county, who may need to take this course to access agricultural lands during or following a flood, storm, fire, or earthquake. A county agricultural commissioner or other agency designated by the county board of supervisors may administer the course.
This course was developed per Assembly Bill AB1103 Agricultural lands: livestock producers: managerial employees: livestock pass program: disaster access to ranch lands. Visit the FSTEP webpage for the course plan (PDF). More information can be found on the Implementation Plan (PDF).
Curriculum Retirement Reminder
Published: March 2023
The following curriculum retires from the SFT catalog on June 30, 2023:
- Rescue Systems 2: Advanced Rescue Skills (2010)
- Rescue Systems 3: Structural Collapse Technician (2012)
- Vehicle Extrication (2015)
Both courses have been replaced by new curriculum. Visit the Structural Collapse Specialist (PDF) or Common Passenger Vehicle Rescue (PDF) Implementation Plans or visit the FSTEP webpage for more details.
Fire Marshal Task Book Update
Published: March 2023
The Public Information Officer (PIO) course will no longer be required for the Fire Marshal Task Book (PDF) initiation. The PIO course is now a task book corequisite and is required to be completed prior to completing the task book.
State-Certified Prescribed-Fire Burn Boss (CARX) Course Updates
Published: March 2023
The State-Certified Prescribed-Fire Burn Boss (CARX) course's maximum class size has been updated from 24 to 30 students, with a matching instructor/student ratio of 1:30 for both lectures and activities. Please see the State-Certified Prescribed-Fire Burn Boss Course Plan (PDF).
ARTP/ALA Accreditation Updates
Published: March 2023
San Bernardino County Fire, Chabot College, and Shasta College have been approved for reaccreditation.
Congratulations to all of these Accredited Academies!
NWCG Course Updates
Published: January 2023
In order to align with NWCG standards, State Fire Training has updated the Course Plans for a number of NWCG based courses. This alignment results in lower total class sizes and smaller instructor to student ratios for many of the updated classes. Agencies and Instructors should review the updated course plans available at FSTEP Curriculum (ca.gov) to determine potential agency impacts and scheduling needs. Agencies will be required to comply with the updated course plans effective July 1st, 2023.
Info Bulletin: Instructor Trainee Task Books
Published: Nov 2022
This Information Bulletin clarifies the requirements of an Instructor Trainee Task Book and the number of instructor trainees that may be signed off during one course. Review the Instructor Trainee Task Book Informational Bulletin (PDF) for more details.
Trench Rescue Technician Curriculum (2021)
Published: Nov 2022
The Trench Rescue Technician curriculum has been aligned with National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 1006: Standard for Technical Rescue Personnel Professional Qualifications. Current Registered Instructors will be automatically updated in SFT User Portal. Review the Trench Rescue Technician Implementation Plan or visit the FSTEP webpage for more details.
The Trench Rescue Technician (2014) curriculum will retire on June 30, 2023.
Common Passenger Vehicle Curriculum (2021)
Published: Nov 2022
Common Passenger Vehicle Rescue curriculum has been aligned with the updated National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 1006. Current Vehicle Extrication Registered Instructors will be automatically updated in SFT User Portal. Review the Common Passenger Vehicle Rescue Implementation Plan or visit the FSTEP webpage for more details.
Applicants pursuing Vehicle Extrication Instructor registration without an Instructor Task Book must submit all documentation postmarked on or before June 30, 2023.
The Vehicle Extrication (2015) curriculum will retire on June 30, 2023.
Heavy Vehicle Rescue Technician Curriculum (2021)
Published: Nov 2022
The new Heavy Vehicle Rescue Technician curriculum is in alignment with National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 1006: Standard for Technical Rescue Personnel Professional Qualifications, 2021 edition. This class is designed to allow students to better prepare for an incident involving heavy vehicles (i.e., semi-trailers, busses) and the unique extrication scenarios that are found with vehicles of this type.
The Registered Instructor Heavy Vehicle Rescue Roll-Out Courses will begin in February 2023. More information on registering for the online roll-out course is to come in January 2023. Review the Heavy Vehicle Rescue Technician Implementation Plan or visit the FSTEP webpage for more details.
Fire Control 4 Curriculum (2022)
Published: Nov 2022
The Fire Control 4 Ignitable Liquids and Gases curriculum creates alignment with NFPA 1001. The designation of the senior instructor has been eliminated in the new course, which follows the instructor requirements of other live-fire curricula in the State Fire Training catalog.
The course is now divided into two levels of instruction. This allows for more practical applications of live fire skills and drills at the awareness level while separating the more technical (pipeline, fixed facility) instruction into a technician-level course. Review the Fire Control 4 Implementation Plan or visit the FSTEP webpage for more details.
Applicants pursuing Fire Control 4 (2015) Instructor registration with an Instructor Task Book must submit all documentation postmarked on or before June 30, 2023.
The Fire Control 4 (2015) curriculum will retire on June 30, 2023.
Home Ignition Zone- Defensible Space Curriculum
Published: Nov 2022
The Home Ignition Zone / Defensible Space Inspector curriculum provides the skills and knowledge needed to perform in the role of a Home Ignition Zone / Defensible Space Inspector (HIZ/DSI) including roles and responsibilities, wildfire in the natural and built environment, codes and regulations, defensible space, home hardening, and the inspection process. Review the Home Ignition Zone/Defensible Space Inspector Implementation Plan or visit the FSTEP webpage for more details.
S-223 Fireline Emergency Medical Technician/Paramedic
Published: Nov 2022
The S-223 Fireline Emergency Medical Technician/Paramedic curriculum is now available as an FSTEP Course. Adoption of this curriculum into the SFT system demonstrates that this course meets the Curriculum Development Guidelines. It identifies instructor requirements, increases the number of potential instructors, and adds a defined process for course registration. Review the S-223 Implementation Plan or visit the FSTEP webpage for more details.
Historical Recognition for individuals who have been instructing the FIRESCOPE S-223 course prior to SFT adopting this curriculum will be extended to June 30, 2023.
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