California State Fire Training

SFT sought input from test development and validation specialists from California State University Sacramento (CSUS) and from participants of the FF1B: HazMat pilot program. Both recommended increasing the number of question items on the FF1B Cognitive exam to improve reliability and overall performance. SFT will be transitioning to a 25-question FF1B: HazMat Awareness cognitive exam and a 25-question FF1B: HazMat Operations cognitive exam beginning July 1, 2023. This change will increase the total test items for FF1B from 25 to 50 and will require an additional thirty minutes of exam time. Review the Staff Report (PDF) for more details.

Machinery Rescue Technician is a new course in the SFT catalog that provides the knowledge and skills to prepare an emergency responder to extricate victim(s) from machinery in a safe and effective manner. This curriculum incorporates awareness, operations, and technician training based on NFPA 1006: Standard for Technical Rescue Personnel Professional Qualifications. Review the Implementation Plan (PDF) for more details.

SFT updated both the Fire Fighter 1B: HazMat FRA/FRO (2017) curriculum to align with NFPA 470: Hazardous Materials/Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD) Standard for Responders (2022) and the Fire Fighter 1C: Wildland (2020) to align with NFPA 1140: Standard for Wildland Fire Protection (2022). The skills sheets for Fire Fighter 1A: Structure (2019) and Fire Fighter 2A: Structure (2019) have been updated for IFSAC/Pro Board compliance and there has been no change to the existing Fire Fighter 1A: Structure and Fire Fighter 2A: Structure course content. All Accredited Academies shall download and utilize these new skills beginning July 1, 2023. Review the summary of all changes in the Staff Report (PDF).

The SFT RIC Operations (2010) curriculum has been updated and the course allows students to recognize and engage in skills necessary to minimize errors on the fire ground and reduce fire fighter injuries and fatalities using timely and relevant information and techniques. The new course was correlated to the International Association of Fire Fighters’ Fire Ground Survival program (currently under development). Review the Implementation Plan (PDF) for more details.