Fire Academy

Kilgore College Fire Academy Application

Download Fire Academy Application (PDF Acrobat Reader Required)


Kilgore College Fire Academy 2008 - 2009 Calendar

We must have the application on or before the Application Deadline. You will be notified by letter regarding your status in the Kilgore College Fire Academy.

The Basic Structural Firefighter program is physically demanding as well as academically challenging.
The Texas Commission on Fire Protection strongly recommends that all students be able to read and comprehend with at least a 10th grade reading level in order to complete this fast-paced program.

This should be very important determining factor in your decision to apply for the Fire Academy.

Upon acceptance into the Fire Academy:
A student with any documented learning disability must advise and present documentation to the Fire Academy coordinator for consultation. The student must understand that the Texas Commission on Fire Protection does not allow the use of open book testing or oral testing methods.

Students may be sponsored:
By a paid department if they are a full-time member of that department with the intent of being hired. If you are being sponsored by a department, please take the following steps:

• Chief of department must contact KCFA and reserve a space

• Chief of department must write a letter of sponsorship

• Student must complete an Application for Admission

• Return Application and sponsorship letter on or before the Application Deadline

Please Note: Admission to the Fire Academy is based upon a highly competitive process. Preference will be given to an applicant’s level of education, experience and their affiliation with a volunteer department or rescue unit. Please return your application on or before the application deadline so that your application can be reviewed. The Fire Academy is a non-credit continuing education program. Kilgore College does not award semester credit hours for this program.
For further assistance, please feel free to call (903) 983-8662. Again, thank you for your interest in Kilgore College.

Other Equipment:

You may use your own personal protective equipment if it is NFPA 1851 (Selection, Care, and Maintenance of Protective Ensembles for Structural Fire Fighting and Proximity Fire Fighting) approved and inspected by Chief Dennis Gage. You will be required to provide written documentation from a verified independent service provider or the Chief of the department stating that the personal protective equipment has met the advanced testing/cleaning criteria required by the 2008 NFPA Standard 1851 advanced inspection. A limited amount of equipment is available to rent on a first come, first serve basis for the duration of the academy for a fee of $350 (non-refundable).

Nomex hoods must be purchased by each student (available at the Fire Academy for $25.00).


Calculator Required for Various Classes:

• Uniform: Approximately $45.00 per set + .0825 tax. This includes: navy pants, light blue shirt, 1 name tag, and a Fire Academy patch for each shirt. Student must provide their own black footwear and black belt. Uniforms are ordered through Nardis, Inc. (2 Sets Required).
  
• Housing: For those students who live a great distance from the campus, Kilgore College offers dorm rooms at reasonable rates on a first come, first serve basis.
  
• Meals: Students wishing to eat at the Kilgore College Cafeteria may purchase meal tickets. There are also several restaurants in the Kilgore area in which students may dine.

NOTE: We can only guarantee slots to those who are being sponsored by a full-paid fire department. Preference will be given to an applicant’s level of education, experience, and their affiliation with a volunteer department or rescue unit.

NOTE TO APPLICANTS:
The Kilgore College Fire Academy requires the applicant to provide proof of the following:

1. Proof of High School Diploma and official high school transcript or G.E.D. scores.
   
2. Proof of Honorable Discharge from the military (if applicable).
   
3. General medical physical by physician (Form included).
   
4. Drug screen (Form included—you may use your own local clinic or physician).
   
5. Current copies of all medical certifications (ex. EMT-B, OFA Level III, First Responder Level III, or E.C.A.).

Applicants must turn in all of the above-mentioned information, if applicable, when returning their application. Failure to meet all criteria requested could result in non-admission to the academy. Falsification of information will result in non-admission or dismissal from the academy. If you have any questions or need further assistance, please call (903) 983-8662.

FINANCIAL AID AVAILABLE :
1. Texas veterans meeting residency requirements may be eligible for VA benefits (tuition only). Contact Lois Jordan in Financial Aid for more information.

2. Members of Volunteer Fire Departments with less than 20 members are eligible for partial tuition reimbursement from the Texas Forest Service.
Contact (979) 458-6505 or Ms. Kathy Davis (979) 458-7355.
Information on House Bill 2604 found at http://txforestservice.tamu.edu

PLEASE NOTE :
Students enrolled in the Kilgore College Fire Academy will be required to wear SCBA on certain field projects. For the students’ safety, beards, mustaches, and/or long sideburns are prohibited as they may cause a seal failure. No necklaces, earrings, nose rings, tongue rings, eyebrow rings, rings (other than wedding rings and/or class rings) or excessive jewelry shall be worn while in uniform. Men’s hair must not be longer than one inch above the shirt collar in the back. It is also recommended that contact lenses not be worn during field operations.

Texas Commission on Fire Protection and IFSAC Updates
Individuals completing a combined Firefighter 1 and Firefighter II Commission approved Basic Structural Fire Suppression program; passing the applicable state examination; and holding, as a minimum, current certification by the Texas Department of Health as an Emergency Care Attendant or higher may be granted IFSAC certifications as a Firefighter 1, Firefighter II, Hazardous Materials Awareness, and Hazardous Materials Operations by making application to the Commission for the IFSAC seals and paying applicable fees. Canadian students must have documented proof of successful completion of the British Columbia Occupational First Aid Level 3 or Alberta documentation of the First Responder Level III to fulfill the Commission’s medical requirements. Students successfully completing the Firefighter I and II Basic Structure Fire Suppression program have one year in which to complete the Commission medical requirements.

New IFSAC seal rules are now in place:
New rules concerning the procedures for qualifying for the International Fire Service Accreditation Congress seals have gone into effect as of March 2003.

 Previously, examinees that passed the Commission’s basic structure fire suppression certification exam were eligible for four seals:
Fire Fighter I, Fire Fighter II, Hazardous Materials Awareness and Hazardous Materials Operations. Under the new rules, examinees may still qualify for all four seals, but in order to do so they must achieve a score of 70 percent or higher on each of the four (4) exam sections. If a student fails a particular exam section, they would not be eligible for the seal in the area that he or she failed. The Fire Commission has broken the written exam into the following four sections:

The student must pass each of the four (4) sections with a minimum of 70 percent on each section in order to qualify for the four (4) IFSAC seals.

In the event a Canadian student or out-of-state student fails to successfully achieve the required 70% on any of the four (4) certification exam sections, he/she will have to return to Texas to retest for that section. Contact Mollie Clakley at the Texas Commission on Fire Protection (512) 936-3838 to schedule a re-test date and site.

Additional Requirements for Canadian Students

1. The Commission now has a rule in place that will allow any Canadian student with documented proof of successful completion of the British Columbia Occupational First Aid Level 3 or Alberta documentation of the first Responder Level III to have met the Texas medical equivalency of the E.C.A course required to fulfill the Commission’s medical requirements.

2. All students MUST process through the Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) counter at their point of exit from Canada or at their point of entry into the U.S. If the Student I-20M Form is not properly processed by Immigrations personnel, the student will be sent home.

3. Because of the limited amount of bunker gear to be rented, it is highly recommended that students furnish their own bunker gear but students will be required to provide written documentation from a verified independent service provider or the Chief of the department stating that their personal protective equipment has met the advanced testing/cleaning criteria required by the 2008 NFPA Standard 1851 advanced inspection.

4. Payment must be made by credit card, cashier’s check, certified check, or money order ONLY (in U.S. dollars only). An additional $15.00 should be added to each of the above to cover international bank processing charges.

Firefighter Medical Examination Certification
The following criteria is critical in evaluating if individuals are medically and physically capable to perform and interact in the performances required by the Fire Academy program at Kilgore College.

Physical Demand	Description
Standing/Walking	On concrete, asphalt, burned out buildings to investigate fire sites; to demonstrate equipment when giving speeches.
Vision	To operate equipment; perform rescue operations.
Hearing/Talking	Communicate during rescue and fire fighting operations; communicate on the radio and in person with the general public; diagnose equipment problems.
Lifting/Carrying	Protective gear (20-26 lbs.); self-contained breathing apparatus (27 lbs.); ladders up to 24 feet long (64 lbs.); fan (50 lbs); fire extinguisher (40-45) lbs); jaws and power unit (60 lbs. each).
Pushing/Pulling	Red line – 20 lbs. of exertion; hose – 45 to over 50 lbs. of exertion; close valve – 55 lbs. of exertion; for CPR – 35 lbs. of force.
Reaching	For fan, jaws and power unit in cramped confined space; to lift ladders – 60 inches; for fire extinguishers – 20 inches; for deluge gun – up to 80 inches; for extension ladder – 72 inches; for Hurst tool and power unit – 42 inches; to use ceiling hook to pull ceilings and to wash apparatus.
Handling	To connect hoses; use ladders; use small tools; open and close valves; handle victims.
Fine Dexterity	To draw pre-fire plans; use chemical monitors; fill out reports; tie ropes and knots; administer emergency medical treatment.
Foot Control	To drive, push gas and brake pedal – 30 lbs. of exertion; to operate stretcher – 20 lbs. of exertion.
Bending	To fold, couple and uncouple fire hoses; move equipment and tools; administer first aid.
Twisting	To operate hose streams; put on self-contained breathing apparatus; communicate on vehicle; raise and lower scene lights on van and trucks.
Climbing/Balancing	On ladders, stairs or fire vehicle to obtain equipment; to walk on rafters and in attics; to use hose stream.

Machines, Tools, Equipment and Work Aides
Chain saws, smoke ejectors, generators, self-contained breathing apparatus, fire pumps, nozzles, axes, pike poles, ladders, ropes, Hurst tool and power unit, hoses, deluge gun, halligan tool, stretcher, oxygen, electrical cords, spanner wrench, emergency medical equipment, and hydrant wrench and computer.

Environmental Factors
Exposed to extreme heat in burning structures; work outside in all types of weather and high humidity. Exposed to chemicals, exhaust fumes, smoke, burning buildings, noise from truck engines, jaws and power units, saws, sirens and air horns; operating power saws, jaws and power unit tool.

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