The following section reflects the philosophies, policies and procedures for the Tupelo Fire Department Training Center

Mission Statement

The primary mission of the Tupelo Fire Department Training Center is to provide for the training needs of the fire service providers of our community.

Scope

As allowed by law and being guided by nationally recognized practices of instructional methodology and curriculum, the Tupelo Fire Department Training Center will provide educational services to meet the needs of the local fire service community.

Legal Compliance Statement

he Tupelo Fire Department Training Center (TFDTC) shall comply with the policies of the City of Tupelo, in addition to all state and federal mandated standards and regulations.
 

Non-Discriminatory Statement

The TFDTC shall adhere to the policies and procedures outlined in Section 103 of the City of Tupelo Employee Handbook regarding discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, veteran's status, disability, or any other characteristic protected by law.
 

Authority to Certify

The TFDTC shall certify the training has been provided that meets the accreditation requirements of the Mississippi Fire Service Personnel Minimum Standards Training and Certification Board (MSCB) for the following courses. All other courses offered through TFDTC are certifiable through this agency as meeting the applicable National Fire Protection Association Standards or other state or nationally recognized curriculum.

Firefighter
Fire Apparatus Driver/Operator
Fire Service Instructor
Fire Officer
Fire Investigator
Public Fire Educator
Fire Inspector
Airport Firefighter

The TFDTC shall adhere to the National Fire Protection Association Professional Qualification Standards at the basis for developing courses. Recognizing that these standards change from time to time, the policy of the TFDTC shall be to conform with changes to the Standards within 3 years.

Curriculum for specialized courses shall be based on proven practices, recognized principles, standard operating guidelines or other nationally recognized standards.

Instructor Qualifications

All instructors teaching at the TFDTC shall be qualified for certification as a Fire Service Instructor I through the MSCB.

All Course Coordinators at the TFDTC shall be qualified for certification as a Fire Service Instructor II through the MSCB.

Specialty Instructors within specialized areas of expertise may be utilized provided they are certified in that field. The Course Coordinator will be responsible for the curriculum and testing.

Safety and Health Policies

The TFDTC will strive to comply with the National Fire Protection Standards regarding Firefighter Health and Safety and Live Fire Training. Specific policies are contained in the Tupelo Fire Department Standard Operating Guidelines Manual.
 

Record Keeping and Documentation

All course documents shall be collected and maintained by the Course Coordinator. Course documentation shall be maintained by the Division of Special Services.

All student information will be considered personal and confidential. Student information will be released to Departmental personnel only on a need to know basis.

Supervisory personnel may request specific information about the student's progress or success, normally this information will be limited to an indication of passing or failing of exams/skills. Shift Supervisors, Command Staff, or the Chief of Department may have full access to the student's course information.

Student health information provided during the course shall be disclosed only to the Course Coordinator and Course Safety Officer. Emergency Medical Personnel shall have access to this information in the event a student is injured.

Certificate issued by the Mississippi Fire Personnel Minimum Standards and Certification Board shall be filed in the employee's personnel file. A copy of this certificate shall be provided to the employee. The original shall remain in the personnel file and to be returned to the Minimum Standards Board in the event the employee terminates employment for any reason.

Individual student transcripts shall be maintained by the Division of Special Services. These transcripts shall document the course name, contact hours, date/time of course, completion status, and grades. Copies of these transcripts shall be available only to the individual student and the Chief of the Department. Requests for transcripts shall be made in writing with copies of the request attached to the permanent student transcript.

Public posting of student information will be restricted to posting of grades through a code number or other indicator with no indication of the student's name.

Testing for the various courses provided by the TFDTC shall adhere to strict procedures. The Course Coordinator is responsible for the security of the exam material and proper testing procedures to prevent cheating.

All exams will be drawn from a bank of questions, that have been validated for the current IFSTA curriculum. Exams will compiled by the, Chief of the Department, Deputy Chief, or the Administrative Specialist.

Access to the test data bank shall be limited to the Chief of the Department, Deputy Chief, and Administrative Specialist. The test bank shall be stored on a secured computer. Copies of certification exams shall be maintained in a secured area by the Division Chief of Special Services at all times.

Copies of exams shall be limited to the number of students in the course. All exams shall be accounted for at the end of the examination period. One copy of the certification exams shall be maintained in the course file for documentation and reference. All other certification exams shall be destroyed at the end of the course. Daily, chapter, and skills exams are not included in the policy.

Only TFDTC qualified instructors shall proctor written and skills exams. The Course Coordinator is responsible for assuring the test proctor follows appropriate testing procedures.

Proctors shall be monitored by the Chief of the Department, Deputy Chief, or Division Chief of Special Services during final testing to assure adherence to testing policies.

Two proctors shall be used for Firefighter Certification final skills exams.

Proctors shall be instructed in proper exam procedures prior to any final exam.

Proctors failing to properly grade, follow procedures, or caught instructing a student during in exam will be subject to disciplinary action by the Department.

The following exams/check offs may be proctored by any TFDTC qualified instructor:

Skills Check
Written Daily Exams
Written Chapter Exams
Written Weekly Exams
Written Final Exams

Non-MSCB Certified Course Written Exams

Final Skills Exams

Written exams will be conducted in the following manner for all certification courses:

Written exams shall satisfy the cognitive requirements of the appropriate level of certification as set for by the various NFPA Professional Qualifications Standards and Competency Standards.

Testing will be conducted in an area of sufficient space to provide a minimum of one chair space between students.

No talking shall be allowed once the testing begins.

Students should not have books, personal notes, notebooks, or other materials on the desk, unless approved by the proctor.

Answer sheets shall be provided to the students first. Tests shall be distributed faced down. Students shall not turn the test over or begin testing until instructed to begin.

Students shall be instructed in the proper manner to mark and change answers as necessary. All answers must be in the proper location on the answer sheet. Improperly marked answers or answers in the wrong location will be considered incorrect.

An appropriate time limit shall be provided for each exam. This will be based on the type of exam.

Students must raise their hand to present a question to the test proctor. The proctor shall go to the student. The proctor may read the question to the student, but may not explain the question in any way.

Students shall quietly leave the room upon completion of the exam, taking the answer sheet and test to the designated location.

Skills assessments shall be conducted in the following manner for Certification Courses:

Skills assessments will satisfy the skill performance requirements of the appropriate level of certification as set for by the various NFPA Professional Qualifications Standards and Competency Standards.

The Course Coordinator shall conduct a briefing will all proctors prior to the beginning of the exam.

The Course Coordinator shall prepare a grading sheet with the student's name and identification number on the sheet. The testing proctors shall be provided with the grade sheets and will maintain possession of the sheets at all time. Students will not be allowed to handle the grade sheets.

Appropriate personal protective equipment is required while performing skills. The level of personal protective equipment is to be the same as the level normally required to perform the skill.

Testing Stations shall be established and distributed in a manner to prevent students from witnessing the skills be evaluated at each station. Students shall remain in a place to prevent seeing any testing station prior to beginning the test. Students shall be prevented from conversing with other students that have completed any portion of the test.

All equipment used in the skills test shall be placed in the same starting position for each student. The proctor shall read the skill objective as it appears on the grade sheet. The proctor shall not refer to any manual, event or object during the process. The proctor shall restrict conversation to the reading of the objective or remarks used to place the student at ease.

Students may have up to five minutes to think about the stated objective before starting. The student shall have two attempts to successfully complete the objective within the stated time frame. Unless otherwise indicated, the time limit shall be ten minutes for completion of both attempts at the objective.

Outside observers may be allowed by the proctor or Course Coordinator. Observation by members of the Tupelo Fire Department shall not be permitted except when official business dictates.

Daily/Chapter Skills Check

Student and Instructor Check off signed after the student has performed the skill. The purpose of these checks are to teach the student the proper method, technique or procedure. This is not a test.

Weekly Skills Check

Students will take a Skills Assessment at the close of each week consisting of a minimum of five skills chosen at random by the Deputy Chief or Chief of the Department. A proctor will assess the students performance.

Final Skills Assessment

Students will take a comprehensive Skills Assessment at the close of the course.

A minimum of twenty skills will be chosen at random by the Deputy Chief or Chief of the Department.

Proctors will be instructed in proper procedures and acceptable behavior prior to testing.

Random audits and observation of Proctors by supervisors will be used to assure proper testing policies are followed.

Course Scoring

Successful completion any of course meeting the criteria of the MSCB requirements for certification is as follows:

Students are expected to maintain a Chapter/Daily Test average of 70% or higher for successful completion. This average shall normally count as 1/4 the final course grade.

Students given weekly written exams and weekly skill checks are expected to maintain a 70% or higher for successful completion. Weekly test averages shall count as 1/4 the final course grade.

Students given final comprehensive exams are expected to score a 70% or better for successful completion. Final exams shall count as 1/4 the final course grade.

Students given final comprehensive skills exams are expected to score a 70% or better for successful completion. Final skills exams shall count as 1/4 the final course grade.

When exam schedules differ than previously mentioned, the Course Coordinator shall brief the students during class orientation as to how the final course grade will be determined.

During class orientation/daily announcements students will be notified of the type, date and time of the next scheduled exam. Exam periods are also marked on some course schedules and posted on the bulletin board.

Testing for programs not certified by the MSCB follow the same criteria as certified programs.

The schedule, final course grade and testing format for these courses shall be determined by the Course Coordinator or Course Developer.

Some course may not have exams, while some may only have written exams. When applicable the exams shall be given following the same procedures as certification exams.

The following facilities are available to the TFDTC for training purposes.

WATER SUPPLY

The City of Tupelo water system is available for use to provide training from fire hydrants. This includes other City infrastructures such as city streets and parking lot facilities for hose evolutions.

An underground water storage tank is available at the TFDTC for use on the fire ground. The tank capacity is approximately 10,000 gallons. Provisions have been made for water return from the flammable liquids area to replenish the tank. During live fire training, safety lines will be provided through the use of a second engine and tank water.

Water supply at the burn structure is accomplished in two ways. The first is tank supply from the attack engine and secondary shuttle. The second provision is for drafting and supply from the underground storage tank. Rapid Intervention Team (RIT) attack lines shall be from a separate engine company using tank water.

CLASSROOM FACILITIES

The primary classroom available at the TFDTC is approximately 840 square feet. Classroom space is limited to 42 students.

A secondary classroom is located at the Northeast Mississippi Law Enforcement Training Center. This classroom is 800 square feet, with seating capability of 40.

Classroom facilities are also available at Fire Station 1 with 361 square feet with the option for expansion. Classroom space is limited to 18 students without expansion.

DRILL TOWER

A four story training tower is located at 106 Jefferson St.. The tower under went renovation in 1996, with new stairs and safety fences constructed. The tower is suitable for laddering evolutions and rappeling. Various points of entrance and egress are available for training. The tower is equipped with a standpipe connection on the second floor. A working sprinkler head is located on the first floor for simulation purposes.

Access to a complete sprinkler system for training purposes is available through use of the Bancorp South Center. This facility is used for training in operations and identification fire protection systems.

PIT FIRE AREA

The flammable liquids and outside fire training is an area consisting of a 40 feet by 80 feet concrete pad with three burn props. A simulated dumpster fire and vehicle fire is fueled by LP gas and controlled through a main gas control manifold. A 10 feet by 14 feet concrete pit provides 140 square feet of simulated liquid fuel fire area. The water filled pit is fueled by LP gas to simulate a liquid fuel fire. This area can be used for both foam and dry chemical extinguishers.
 

BURN STRUCTURE/BURN BUILDING

A 20 feet by 60 feet Burn Building is available for use in training for structural firefighting. The structure contains three rooms on the first floor. Burn simulators include a couch fire and a kitchen fire. These props are fueled by LP gas with cutoff valves located in each room and outside the room. A pilot light is used to ignite the fire places. There are two rooms up stairs for simulating two story fires, laddering structures, and search and rescue techniques. Smoke for the structure is through use of a smoke barrel, burning hay, and/or theatrical type smoke makers. No toxic products are used in producing the smoke. Specific policies concerning use and safety are contained in sections 10.10 -10.12 of the Standard Operating Guidelines.

ADDITIONAL FACILITIES

Confined Space Training Prop

A confined space simulator combining three underground storage tanks, various pipe works, and restricted entry and egress openings is available for special rescue training.

Driver Training Facilities

Driver training is conducted in one of two locations. The primary driver training site is the closed runway at the Tupelo Regional Airport. This site provides for complete security of the area when driver training is being conducted. The parking facility at the Bancorp South Center is the primary driver training area when hydrant connections are needed. Portions of the parking lot are blocked to prevent motorist from entering the training area.

Equipment and Tools

The TFD possesses all equipment necessary to meet the MSCB Level I Facility requirements. The Division of Special Services shall have access to any and all departmental equipment necessary to complete any training. Some equipment is maintained by the Division of Special Services, while some is placed on in-service apparatus. Special provisions will be made to assure that special rescue tools are made available on an immediate basis in the event that training is being conducted. Hose, tools, and appliances not found on the reserve apparatus may be pulled from in-service units on a temporary basis.

Safety and Security

The location of the TFDTC provides for security by geographic and man-made means. The property is bound by both fences, gates and land structures that prohibit easy access to the facility. During training times the designated Safety Officer shall assure that students, visitors, observers and instructors remain in secure areas to prevent accidental access to dangerous areas.

For live fire training the following procedures are required:

Instructor Requirements for Live Fire Training

A member of the Command Staff must be present at the time of any live fire training. This member may function in one of the required Instructor positions.

The Instructor-in-Command shall be responsible for compliance with NFPA 1403 requirements and the requirements of this section of the Standard Operating Guidelines. The Instructor-in-Command shall be a Certified Instructor II.

The Instructor-in-Command shall be responsible for the content of the training session, conducting safety inspections, briefings, pre-burn and post-burn checks, making certain that suitable rehabilitation measures are taken and completion of all documentation. The Instructor-in-Command shall make sure that all Instructors in critical positions are trained in the proper use and operation of the live fire training equipment.

A Safety Officer shall be appointed for any live fire training. The Safety Officer shall be a Certified Instructor and trained in the operations of any live fire training equipment. Responsibilities of the Safety Officer include; preventing unsafe acts, elimination of unsafe conditions, and provide for the safety of all persons on the training ground. The Safety Officer shall have not other responsibilities on the training ground.

The Safety Officer has full authority to intervene and control any aspect of the operations when in his/her judgement a potential or actual danger, accident, or unsafe condition exists.

An Instructor shall be assigned the responsibility of controlling the fuel valves. This Instructor shall have the responsibility of control the fuel to all burn props in use. This Instructor shall not have any other function on the training ground that would interfere with his operation of the fuel valves. The Fuel Control Instructor shall be in constant contact with the Instructor-in-Command and the Safety Officer.

The participating Student to Instructor ratio shall not exceed 5 to 1.

One Instructor will accompany the Rapid Intervention Team.

Additional Instructors or Safety Officers shall be utilized as necessary by function or safety concerns as determined by the Instructor-in-Command.

All participants in live fire training shall have received training to meet the NFPA 1001-1 Firefighter Professional Qualifications Standard performance objectives in the following subjects: Safety, Fire Behavior, Portable Extinguishers, Personal Protective Equipment, Ladders, Fire Hose, Appliances and Streams, Overhaul and Water Supply.

All participants must have complete Personal Protective Equipment that meets the requirements of NFPA 1500.

Instructors must assure that all PPE is properly worn prior to entering into a live fire evolution.

Prior to conducting a live fire evolution, the Instructor-in-Command shall conduct a visual and functional inspection to:

• assure all valves operate properly,
• all training props are structurally sound,
• all exits or means of emergency egress are clear of debris,
• conduct a walk-through of any structure to check for live animals or persons that may be in the building improperly.

Prior to conducting the training all participants must be briefed on the evacuation procedures and signals.

The Instructor-in-Command shall designate a free radio channel for all instructors and teams to use for live fire training. A role call of all participants will be conducted prior to live fire training.

All participants must participate in a walk though of the structure specifically to familiarize them with emergency exits. Simulated victims or specific objectives need not be pointed out to participants.

No person shall play the role of victim during live fire training.

The Instructor shall brief all crews on the objectives and expectations of the evolution prior to entering the building.

The Instructor-in-Command, Safety Officer, and Crew Instructors shall coordinate with one another prior to beginning the evolution.

Crew Instructors shall take a head count and inspect the crew to make sure PPE is properly worn prior to beginning the evolution. Upon completion of the evolution, the Crew Instructor shall take a final head count.

The Safety Officer shall confirm the head count prior to and after the evolution.

General Requirements

At least one back up line from an independent water source will be provided for all live fire training evolutions. Use of an second engine company with tank water is acceptable for training center exercises, as the valve man can close gas valves and clear the lines in response to any emergency. Two engine companies will be required for any live fire training.

In interior live fire training evolutions, the Instructor-in-Command must direct crews to perform positive pressure ventilation on the structure prior to conducting a second evolution. The Safety Officer shall conduct a walk through of the structure to monitor for elevated levels of flammable gases prior to conducting additional burns.

All fuel must be burned out of the fuel supply lines prior to leaving the training facility.