Becoming A Irish Fire-Fighter
By John Byrne ff.
Carnew Fire Brigade
Process in Becoming a Fire-Fighter
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Interview with County Council Fire Service Personnel.
Garda Vetting.
Full Medical Examination.
Suitability Test.
Recruitment Training Course.
Breathing Apparatus Training Course.
Manual Handling Course.
Hot Fire Behaviour Training Course.
Road Traffic Collision Course.
Occupational First Aid Course.
First Responder Course.
Incident Command Course.
Pump Operators Course.
Interview with Fire Personal
 Each candidate will go through a Interview
Stage with fire brigade personnel to unsure that
candidate is suitable to proceed in becoming a
fire-fighter.
 Candidate must , live, work, within a reasonable
distance of the fire station, so that he/she can
respond quickly to incidents.
 The fire service is a equal opportunity employer.
 Candidate must be available 24/7 to respond to
all emergency calls.
 Successful candidate will then proceed to next
step.
Garda Vetting
 The successful candidate will have to summit
to a Garda vetting.
 This will check to see if candidate has a
criminal record or has been in trouble with
An Garda Siochana
 The Garda central vetting unit deals with
requests to vet certain prospective employees.
It only deals with requests from organisations
that are registered with the unit
 The law in Ireland makes it a criminal offence
for some people who fail to notify their
employers they are guilty of certain criminal
offences before taking a job or performing a
service.
Medical Examination
The successful candidate will
have to under go a rigorous full
medical examination.
Checking fitness, flexibility,
breathing, blood-pressure, etc..
This medical is performed by a
specific doctor appointed by the
fire service.
If candidate passes full medical
he/she then progresses on to the
next stage.
Suitability Test
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One of the first tests is to check if the candidate is not afraid of heights.
(Vertigo) This test is done by candidate performing several different ladder
climbs and performing the famous leg-lock which is done at several different
heights on the ladder.
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When the candidate has the leg lock securely in place he/she must then let go
the ladder and lean back with both arms fully extended.
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This test is carried out on what's known to fire-fighters as the 464 ladder, which
is a three section 13.5 metre ladder.
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The second test is a fear of confined spaces test, this test is done in complete
darkness, and involves the candidate to crawl through a series of narrow pipes ,
followed by a crawl through a maize type cage frame.
Suitability Test
The leg-lock performed by Fire-fighters at height
Suitability Test
Confined Spaces Test
Silos
Drains
Recruitment Training Course
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Recruitment training is a two week duration course, where the candidate will
undergo varies aspects of fire-fighting.
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What's involved ?.
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It involves doing ladder drills, pump drills, and later on doing combined ladder
and pump drills.
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The candidate will be thought varies fire-fighting skills and fire safety
throughout this course.
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The candidate is introduced to most of the equipment that fire-fighters use in
every day operations.
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There is both practical and theory involved in this course.
The candidate will undergo assessment throughout the two weeks of the
course, and will sit a theory test at the end of the two weeks. If the candidate
successfully passes the recruitment course he/she will then go on active duty
at his/her Fire Station.
Recruitment Training Course
464 Ladder Drill
Recruitment Training Course
Portable Pump Drills
Breathing Apparatus Course
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The breathing apparatus training course is a two week duration course.
Course Objective:
This course objective is to facilitate the delivery of breathing apparatus training to
produce safe and effective breathing apparatus wearers.
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The fire-fighter are assessed on their ability to present technical information, perform risk
assessments, their ability to work in a very stressful environment.
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The fire-fighters can be sent into the buildings with varies tasks to perform,
(i.e.. Search & Rescue, Fire-Fighting, Hose Retrieval.) Each team will be designated a team
leader and the team leader is responsible for his/her team whilst in the building.
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Team Leader is in frequent contact with the entry control officer over the radio
giving constant updates on progress.
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Each candidate must successfully pass this course to progress in his / her career in the
fire service.
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The B.A. sets that is used by Wicklow fire service is Drager.
This is most probably the toughest course in the Fire Service Training.
Breathing Apparatus Course
• Course Aim
• The aim of this course is to train Fire-fighters the correct procedures associated
with Breathing Apparatus.
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At the end of this course each Fire-fighter should be able to:
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Properly Handle breathing apparatus (B/A)
Properly fit B/A
Properly fit face mask
Test B/A Set
Correctly fit Cylinder to Set
Carry out High and Low Pressure Tests on Set Do Donning and Removal of Set
Entry Control Procedures
Safety Checks including check for Positive Pressure
Warning Whistle Activation
Gauge Readings
Breathing Apparatus Course
Full Fire Kit
Full Fire Kit with B.A.
Breathing Apparatus Course
 The Draeger Breathing
Apparatus Set is the
one used by Wicklow
Fire Service.
(may not be exact
model)
Breathing Apparatus Course
B.A Entry Control
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B.A. Entry control board.
Tally's are placed into board
which show B.A wearers -
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Name
Cylinder pressure
Time in
J BYRNE
5.35
Breathing Apparatus Course
B.A Entry Control
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Every BA control board has a
whistle attached to it in case a
evacuation has to take place.
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And china-graph pencils to write
all information onto board.
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All information from tally's must
be overwritten onto board.
Breathing Apparatus Course
B.A Entry Control
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B.A. Entry control board is controlled by a
BA ENTRY CONTROL OFFICER, known as
B.A.E.C.O.
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Baeco has a very important job to do in B.A. as
he/she is responsible for every person that enters
the building.
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Baeco works out fire-fighters time of whistle, and
gives a short debrief to fire-fighters on tasks that
need to be done once entered the building.
For example:
Fire-fighting
or
Search & Rescue
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Baeco wears a tabard like so.
Breathing Apparatus Course
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BA Entry Control Board
B.A. Team entering a building
Breathing Apparatus Course
Fire fighting Team In Action
Search & Rescue Team In Action
Breathing Apparatus Course
Gas Tight Suite Exercise
It’s Warm in here
BA Team Dealing with a Casualty
Manual Handling Course
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This is a one day course.
This course outlines the management of Manual Handling hazards to assist in the
prevention of sprain/strain injury.
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Manual handling is any activity requiring the use of force exerted by a person to lift,
push, pull, carry or otherwise move, hold or restrain any person, animal or thing.
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Employees are responsible for :
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Not placing themselves or others
at risk of injury.
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Reporting hazards associate with
manual handling and consulting
with crew members in relation to
appropriate risk control measures.
Road Traffic Collision Course
• R.T.C. As its known is a three day course. R.T.C. Training is designed for fire-fighters
who will be required to use specialist equipment, techniques and procedures for
dealing with road traffic collisions and casualty care.
• R.T.C. Is a favourite of nearly all fire-fighters as it is a very hands on course.
• In this course the fire-fighters get to use a wide range of the tools used at R.T.C. (
i.e. The cutting gear, spreaders, rams, etc..)
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In this course fire-fighters are thought safe handling of all the equipment used in
R.T.C. Incidents and safe handling of casualties.
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Fire-fighters are trained in casualty care and save removal of casualty from the
vehicle.
Road Traffic Collision Course
Tools of the Trade
Halmatro Cutters
Halmatro Spreaders
Glass Management Saw
Road Traffic Collision Course
Fire-fighters using Halmatro Cutters
Road Traffic Collision Course
Fire-fighters dealing with casualties
Fire Behavior Training Course
 One of the significant hazards facing fire-fighters involved in tackling
fires in buildings is the possibility of a sudden increase in the burning
rate and severity of fires through phenomena such as
Flashover and Back draught.
 Fire-fighters will see all the stages in fire development and witness
what is known as Dancing Angels.
 This training helps the fire-fighter to understand how fire develops
and spreads within a compartment and how it can be extinguished.
 The fire-fighter will be taught how to enter a building in a safe
manner and what to expect when he/she enters the building .
 This is probably one of the most enjoyable courses the fire-fighter
will do in his/her training.
Fire Behaviour Training Course
Fire-Fighters Entering A Container
Fire Behaviour Training Course
Fire-Fighters in a Container
Fire Behaviour Training Course
Flashover
Fire Behaviour Training Course
Back Draft
Occupational First Aid Course
 First aid is a three day course.
 First aid is the immediate care given to a
injured person or suddenly ill person.
 In first aid course fire-fighters are giving
CPR and AED training.
 Fire-fighters are thought how to access
patients on first arrival at scene and how to
deal with the injured or sick patients.
 Fire-fighters are thought how to deal with
several different scenarios such as, shock,
heart attack, electrocution, stroke etc..
 Fire-fighters learn how to bandage patients
with fractures and wounds.
First Responder Course
The course programme concedes of:
The course programme concedes of:
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Responsibilities of the first responder
Diagnosis & principles of treatment The
nervous system
Head injuries
Shock – fainting
Unconsciousness
Patient approach
Examination of the casualty
SAMPLE - history
Recovery position
Asphyxia and its causes
CPR – practical
Spinal emergencies
Corrosive injuries
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Treatment of foreign bodies
Poisoning
Chemical splashes
Burns & scalds
Blood & circulation
Wounds and bleeding
Control of bleeding
Dressings and bandages
Fractures – causes, types, signs.
Soft tissue injuries
Handling & transport – incl. Improvisation
General rules for treatment
Crush injuries
CHAIN OF SURVIVAL
Early Access
Early CPR
Early Defib
Early Advanced Care
Incident Command Course
 Incident command system is a one day
course.
 Incident command system teaches firefighters that no individual should be
responsible for so many aspects of an
incident that it is difficult or impossible
to give sufficient attention to each.
 Incident command system teaches how
to Sectorise incidents and how to
spread out Responsibilities to different
personnel.
Incident Command Course
 Types of Sectors you can have at an
incident :
 Numbered - sector 1, sector 2, etc..
(May also be used in R.T.C. Incidents)
 Named - front sector, fire sector, search
sector.
 Functional - water sector,
decontamination sector, foam sector.
Etc..
 Geographical - north, south, east, west.
Incident Command Course
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Responsibilities at an incident are spread out as follows:
 Incident commander.
 Sector commanders.
 Command support.
 Operations commander.
(If in use)
2 Pump Incident
Level 1
Sector 1
Commander
Sector 3
Ch1
Commander
Ch1
Main Radio
Ch.1/Verbal
Incident
Commander
Comman
d Support
RCC
RCC
Sector 1
Sector 3
Sector 3
Commander
Sector 1
Commander
4 Pump Incident
Level 2
RCC
Gardai and other services
Incident Commander
Level 2
Command Support
Incident Command Board
• Photo of a Level One Incident
Command Board.
Incident Command Board
 Photo of a Level Two
Incident Command
Board.
Pump Operators Course
Godiva World Series Main Pump
Godiva Portable Pump
Pump Operators Course
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Course Aim:
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The aim of the course is to assist fire fighters in developing and updating their ability and skills
operate Pumps in a safe manner.
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Course Objectives:
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At the end of the course participants will
Have improved their knowledge of the types of pumps in general use in the Fire Service and the
procedures for their efficient operation.
Be aware of the practical and theoretical elements of the construction of the equipment.
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The content of the one week course is:
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Theory of Pump Operation and Water Pressure Delivery
Appliance
Based and PortableOperational Procedures for Pumps – incl. Standard Tests
Use of Pumps and Related Equipment
Practical Exercise
Practical Examination
Trouble Shooting on Site
Pump Operators Course
Water Dam
Starting a Portable Pump
Now that you are a FireFighter
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Retained fire-fighters.
Retained fire-fighters are an essential part of the fire &
rescue service. They serve rural communities, responding
to pagers when an emergency call is received.
A retained fire-fighter must live or work within five
minutes of the fire station.
Clearly, flexibility is key and you will need to be either selfemployed or have an employer who is supportive and
willing for you to leave work at a moments notice to attend
an emergency.
Retained fire-fighter are paid on a quarterly pay basis.
Each new fire-fighter will be issued with Full Fire Kit.
Now that you are a Fire-Fighter
 Retained fire-fighters.
 Retained fire-fighters are an essential part of the
fire & rescue service. They serve rural communities,
responding to pagers when an emergency call is
received.
 A retained fire-fighter must live or work within five
minutes of the fire station.
 Clearly, flexibility is key and you will need to be
either self-employed or have an employer who is
supportive and willing for you to leave work at a
moments notice to attend an emergency.
 Retained fire-fighter are paid on a quarterly pay
basis.
 Each new fire-fighter will be issued with Full Fire
Kit.
Your New Kit
Full Fire Kit
Course / Training Wear
Helmet
Flash Hood
Tunic
Gloves
Leggings
Boots