Law and Security Administration/Police Foundations - Conestoga College of Applied Arts and TechnologySecurity Education in CanadaCrime and Fire Programs -- Community College Programs
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Law and Security Administration/Police Foundations - Conestoga College of Applied Arts and Technology College of the Rockies' 22-week Fire Training Certificate, offered in partnership with the Calgary, Cranbrook, and Kimberley Fire Departments, provides students with the knowledge and skills required to pursue careers as firefighters, or related positions, for fire departments in British Columbia. The Program's curriculum provides 'a coordinated, professional, and complete entry-level education' through which students learn from 'a mix of theory and practical skill development,' including 'hands-on activities involving fire safety and emergency response skills. The practical components of the Program will take place 'in a municipal Fire Hall environment' where students will 'experience the day-to-day tasks of fire hall work and have the opportunity to represent the community as a practicum student firefighter in charity and emergency response situations.' The Program is accredited by ProBoard and meets National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) standards of qualification. Among the major areas of study the Program covers are Airbrakes Endorsement Training, Basic Chainsaw Operations and Safety, BC Medical First Responder - Level 3, and CPR C, Class 3 Driver Training, Emergency Medical Responder, Emergency Vehicle Operations, Hazardous Materials Awareness and Operations Level, Incident Command Systems, Industrial Fire Fighter, Level I and II Firefighter, Ministry of Forests, Preparation for the Emergency Services Workplace, and Vehicle Extrication. Graduates of the Program can pursue various career and/or further educational options in the Firefighting industry. Career-wise, graduates will have the knowledge and abilities enabling them to be candidates for various professional, full time employment in Firefighting, or related areas, throughout British Columbia. Firefighters may work in a wide range of environments like airports, forests and parks, hazardous materials units, hospitals, and other industrial, rural, urban, and suburban areas. Graduates will be particularly ready for 'entry-level positions in structural, industrial, and wildland fire suppression' as well as 'industrial safety and medical first responder positions.' The environment in which firefighters work will often determine the exact duties they will perform, and some firefighters may develop specialization in an area of Firefighting. For example, those working in forest land tend to focus on fire prevention by, among other ways, surveying the land for fire hazards and fires and quickly organizing responses to the latter when they do occur to limit their spread and damage. Through further training, firefighters may become fire investigators who attempt to reconstruct the origin and cause(s) of a fire. Investigators will usually collect evidence and witness accounts which they then use to produce reports about said fire; in cases where the law may become involved, investigators may be called to testify in court. Firefighting can be a strenuous and physically and mentally demanding career. Firefighters tend to work long and varied hours, and may be called upon to respond to emergencies at anytime during a 24-hour period, including on holidays. Moreover, Firefighting is a dangerous profession with risks for death and/or injuries and/or health problems from things like flames, falling objects, hazardous materials, and imploding structures. When firefighters are not combating fires or attending to other emergency situations directly, they are often at fire stations waiting to be called to duty or performing drills, among other things, or they may be actively engaged in promoting fire prevention. Graduates can also pursue further training in fire fighting or related areas at various institutes and colleges in British Columbia, and possibly throughout Canada. To be eligible for admission to the Program, the applicant must be 19 years of age or older, possess a secondary school diploma or GED equivalent, and 'a valid Class 5 DriverĘs License, or provincial equivalent, valid at time of application,' submit 'a Criminal Record Check' and 'a signed statement from' his/her doctor regarding his/her health and physical ability to meet the physical requirements of the Program and the Firefighting profession, and 'succeed in the pre-admission interviews' Furthermore, the applicant must 'meet the Canadian Vision Standard for Fire Fighters, as endorsed by the Canadian Association of Fire Chiefs dated July 8, 1985. (Visual acuity uncorrected 20/30 (each eye), colour vision normal - passes Ishihara Test, acceptable - passes Farnworth D-15, field vision full to confrontation test in each eye),' possess 'normal unaided hearing,' and 'take a written firefighter aptitude test, physical test and undergo an interview. A signed waiver form (provided) will be required for the physical testing.' The College suggests that prospective students may be able to better succeed in the Program and the Firefighting field if they complete 'a post-secondary education program' and 'fire service related courses,' acquire the 'ability to swim and preferably related life saving certificates,' and 'be active in community service work' and 'able to demonstrate the use and safe handling of tools such as automatic drills, chain saw, etc.'
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