November 1, 2021
Chiefs and Training Officers,
As you are aware, NFPA 1403 Standard on Live Fire Training establishes model safety standards for instructors and fire personnel participating in live fire training. While our live burn permit system is designed to support this standard and identify the members assigned to required instructor roles ahead of time, we have been asked by some departments to provide further explanation on the requirements of NFPA 1403 and the need for instructors when scheduling your department to conduct live fire evolutions at FRFS as a company drill.
There are a minimum of four (4) instructional positions to be filled at any live fire training evolutions. They include:
- One (1) - Safety Officer – School Provided – Facility representative; responsible for preventing injuries, stopping unsafe operations and ensuring health and safety of onsite members through compliance with FRFS policies including injury reporting and enforcing fire load limits.
- One (1) - Lead Instructor (aka Instructor in Charge) – Certified Fire Instructor 2 or FRFS Designated Instructor. The lead instructor is responsible for overall planning and coordination of the training evolutions to meet the learning objectives; assign and coordinate the fire ignition teams (rotated between evolutions); maintain accountability; coordination of attack, back up and other functional groups; pre and post training documentation; compliance with FRFS policies including injury reporting and fire load limits; ensure rehab for members; and demobilization. The lead instructor should NOT be inside the burn building as a “working command” during evolutions.
- Two (2) minimum or more - Instructors – Instructor 1 certified and assigned to each operating unit (not to exceed 5 students), backup line or functional assignment (ie, vent, search, RIT).
- One (1) Ignition Officer/Team – Rotated position among onsite instructors. Ignition team should not be the same crew for consecutive burns and should have a charged line in place. Ignition must be coordinated with IIC and SO prior to ignition.
While we require a FRFS Safety Officer to be on site for all burns, you are welcome to supply your own certified instructors to run and supervise interior companies. If requested, FRFS will be happy to provide a Lead Instructor and additional instructors for your live fire training to free up your members to participate. We highly recommend you consider utilizing FRFS instructors to serve as the Instructor in Charge to coordinate and lead your training evolutions. They are experienced with our building and know the optimal fuel loads to provide a safe and effective educational experience for your members. If you provide your own instructors, we require you to list them on the live burn permit and provide proof of certification provided prior to your scheduled training date.
Respectfully,
Assistant Chief Scott R. Bisson, MS, EFO
Training Officer
