OFPC Changes Firefighter 1 Curriculum

As many of you know, OFPC has been working on revisions to the Firefighter 1 curriculum. OFPC has met with the fire service stakeholders work group, which includes representatives from NYSAFC. After consultation with the advisory committee, OFPC has made some significant changes to the Firefighter 1 curriculum. On April 21, NYSAFC received notice from State Fire Administrator Bryant Stevens that a presentation outlining the changes to the curriculum has been made available on the OFPC website. One of the most significant changes to the curriculum is that New York State OFPC Firefighter 1 certification will be delivered in two courses. All students will begin with the Basic Exterior Firefighting Operations (BEFO) and then progress into the SCBA/Interior Firefighting Operations (FF1) course if they are seeking to be trained as an interior structural firefighter who will wear SCBA. It is hoped that this change will allow more firefighters the time necessary to complete the FF1 course and also maintain a personal life and career. The message from Stevens and a link to the OFPC website are available below. If you have any questions or concerns please email NYSAFC Executive Director Jerry DeLuca for additional information.

Message from State Fire Administrator Bryant D. Stevens
Update to Firefighter 1 and Basic Exterior Firefighter Training Programs

In January 2015, the Office of Fire Prevention and Control (OFPC) released the newest edition of the Firefighter 1 and Basic Exterior Firefighter curriculums. Since that time, OFPC has received numerous comments and communications relating to these new programs.

In an effort to assure that our programs continue to be of the highest quality and meet the needs of New York’s firefighters, OFPC reassembled the stakeholder’s curriculum work group, made up of OFPC members and representatives from statewide organizations, that was used to develop the original curriculum to review the feedback and make recommendations that will further enhance the program.

Based on their recommendations, a separate group has worked to improve both the curriculum and the delivery system. As a result of their work, the program’s delivery principles were modified extensively. This modified program has been finalized and deliveries under this new format are slated to begin September 1, 2016.

Fire departments and fire service organizations can learn about the important changes being made to the program by going to the OFPC website. Click on the banner entitled "Upcoming Changes to the Firefighter I Program." The narrated PowerPoint presentation will take you through the new program.

OFPC members are also available for live presentations or to answer questions. If interested, contact Chief of Fire Operations and Training John Gilmore at (518) 474-6746 or by email.

Many thanks go out to the members of the New York State Fire Coordinator’s Association, Firemen’s Association of the State of New York, New York State Association of Fire Chiefs, New York State Association of Fire Districts, New York State Department of Labor, and those state fire instructors who served as members of the stakeholders working group. Their input has been invaluable to creating what we believe are positive changes that will not only benefit all students who attend the program, but as importantly, produce effectively trained firefighters.