Warren County Fire Academy
In order to receive a course certificate 100% attendance is required.
Attendance will be taken at the beginning and end of each class or practical session and reported to the office. Students are responsible for signing the roster at the start of each class or practical sessions. The lead instructor will verify complete attendance at the end of each session and sign-off on the attendance roster. The instructor will note the time of all late arrivals on the attendance roster. Habitual tardiness without a valid excuse will result in the student being dropped from the course.
Students will be dismissed as a group at the conclusion of the class or practical session, no one is allowed to leave early without prior approval from the Training Coordinator or Operations Officer.
* Any student not in the class at the end will be marked absent for the entire class.
Any student missing 10% of the lessons in any course will be dropped from that course and will be required to re-apply for that course. Students who miss a practical will need permission from the Training Coordinator to continue with the program.
Firefighter I Schedule: Lectures: Tuesday & Thursday 7:30PM – 10:30PM Practical: Saturday & Sunday 8AM - 5 PM
Open Enrollment Programs: The office will post class times.
All course work will be made up under the guidance and supervision of academy staff. Letters from the Chief of the Department indicating that the student has made up missed course work will not be accepted. In the event a student needs to make-up a missed class or practical session they must do so by the end of the following semester in order to receive a course certificate. The student will be responsible for contacting the office to make an appointment, with the Fire Training Coordinator, to make arrangements to make up the missed class or practical, and have their name included on the make up attendance roster. If missed course work is not completed by the end of the following semester the student will be required to take the course over again in order to receive a certificate.
Students must have an average of 70% in order to complete the course and receive a certificate. Students in hands on programs must participate in and satisfactorily pass all practical evolutions to complete the course and receive a certificate.
* Students enrolled in the Firefighter I/II program will be dismissed from the program if they fail four (4) quizzes. The Fire Training Coordinator will notify the Chief of the Department after the second failed quiz to inform them of the student’s status and to notify them that their student will be dismissed from the program if they fail two (2) more quizzes.
Students enrolled in the Firefighter II program will be dismissed from the program if they are unable to satisfactorily complete any of the Practical Skills Evolutions (weekend skills training), and/or the Practical Skills Assessment, and or the Live Burn/Flashover skills training portion of the curriculum. The Training Coordinator will notify the Chief of the Department when a student is found to be deficient in any of theses areas and will explain the reason for dismissal.
* Students with learning disabilities or physical needs to notify the staff of any special needs, so the appropriate accommodations can be made.
All students attending the academy should have proper medical clearance from their physician. (i.e. physical and or NJ State Firemen’s Relief Assoc. Physical) All Chiefs sending students must certify that the student has clearance from a doctor to perform firefighting duties. All students using SCBA must conform with all current PEOSHA/ OSHA Respiratory Protection Standards.
Due to the physical requirements of fire service training and the demanding nature of the training exercises any student who poses a direct threat to their health or safety and to the health and safety of other students and instructors will not be allowed to participate in the course.
Students taking medication with side effects that may affect their participation in the course must notify the office or Operations Officer prior to the start of the course. Students with an illness that may affect their participation in the course must notify the office or Operations Officer prior to the start of class. The academy will conform to the requirements of the American's with Disabilities Act.
Firefighter I students will wear the academy issued t-shirt with neat casual pants to all lectures. All other students will be dressed in casual attire for lectures. Hats or bandanas shall not be worn in the classroom, during lectures.
Comfortable clothing is recommended for practical sessions, long pants are required-Blue jeans or 100% cotton sweatpants are suggested. Note clothing may become soiled during outdoor activities so dress appropriately.
No shorts, cutoffs, tank tops, sleeveless shirts or open toed footwear are allowed on the academy grounds.
No one who has a beard or excessive facial hair shall be permitted to participate in any courses or drills that require the use of Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus (SCBA). This is according to OSHA 29 CFR 1910.134, NFPA 1500 Standard on Fire Department Occupational Safety and Health, Sec. 5-3.10, and PEOSHA.
Any student participating in live fire training, who comes to class with hair that extends below his or her collar, must arrange it so that it does not fall below the collar. Hair enclosed in an OSHA approved hood is acceptable.
During practical sessions jewelry is not to be worn. This includes earrings, necklaces, bracelets or rings. Medical Alert jewelry and wedding bands are exempt.
Students are expected to treat the academy staff, instructors and fellow students with courtesy and respect. Students should be well disciplined and refrain from abusive, profane or obscene language or behavior. Horseplay or any disturbance during class; any form of gambling; sexual harassment; racial or ethnic discrimination, use, possession or introduction of any intoxicants; or reporting to class under the influence of intoxicants, fighting, stealing, cheating on quizzes or exams is not allowed and will not be tolerated. Behaving in this manner will result in the student being permanently dismissed from the program and the academy.
Students may not receive personal phone calls on Academy phones except in emergency situations.
Students are not to stand or sit with their feet against the walls, on tables or chairs, or mark, alter or damage any Academy property.
Do not, in any way, interfere with any classes, the Communications Center or meetings that might be in session. Proper decorum will be exercised at all times. Any act or behavior pattern deemed prejudicial to the good order and discipline of the class, i.e. sleeping during class, horse play in drills, will result in dismissal from the Academy. The administrative office should not be entered unless required to do so on official business.
Students are expected to clean up after themselves. Soda cans, coffee cups, newspapers, etc., are to be placed in the proper receptacles provided for regular trash or recyclables.
All students should take note of the EXIT signs located throughout the building. In an event of an emergency, quickly and calmly exit the building at the location closest to your activity. The emergency door, located at the top of the stairway, is to be used for emergency evacuation only.
All messages, that are not considered emergencies, will be placed on the message center located outside the administrative office. Emergency messages will be delivered immediately. Wearing of boots and turnout gear in the academy building is not permitted.
Breaks will be at the discretion of the instructor. Food & beverages will NOT be allowed in the classroom. All students will be responsible for disposing of their trash in the receptacles provided and cleaning up any mess they make. During practical sessions a minimum 45 minute lunch period will be given to the students.
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) & Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus (SCBA)
The sponsoring department is responsible for supplying their students PPE & SCBA, with a spare air cylinder, for those courses that require this equipment. All protective clothing worn must meet current OSHA, PEOSHA and NFPA Standards. The Academy will refill any student's air cylinder, provided it has an up-to-date hydrostatic test date on it.
It is the responsibility of each organization using the Warren County Fire Academy for training or any other purpose, to provide a certificate of insurance from its insurance company prior to the drill. This certificate of insurance shall provide the following information:
- Liability insurance in a minimum value of # 1,000,000
- The County of Warren shall be named as an additional insured.
- The certificate of insurance holder shall be the Warren County Fire Academy.
Payment for all medical expenses will be the responsibility of the student or users sponsoring organization.
All accidents or injuries occurring on Academy grounds must be reported immediately to the Operations Officer or Safety Officer. The attending academy staff will take the appropriate action to obtain the appropriate level of emergency care for the injured party or parties. The academy office must be notified immediately about the incident and an accident report form must be completed. No student will be allowed to return to class without written permission from their doctor. The Academy will notify the student’s Chief of any illness or injury.
Smoking and smokeless tobacco products are NOT permitted in the Academy buildings or on the drill grounds. Tobacco products are only allowed in the rear of the building at the designated area. Any student found using tobacco products in the Academy buildings WILL be sent home. During outside operations smoke breaks will be at the discretion of the Operations Officer or Instructor in Charge.
Fire calls will not be considered an excuse for being late or missing a lesson. Any student who is attending a course at the Academy is expected to be on time for any course he or she is attending. Unless specifically called by his or her department and requested through academy staff, no student shall leave for an incident in his or her town.
All radio receivers and pagers shall be in the OFF position during instructional periods. Use of cell phones & other electronic devices during class is prohibited. Exception is Chief Officer's, please use vibrate feature to limit classroom disruptions.
The parking area immediately adjacent to the building has been designated as staff parking. The Office of Emergency Management, the Communications Center, the Academy's instructional staff and short-term visitor parking. Students are to park in the general parking area only. Do Not park in reserved spaces. Parking violators may be towed. The use of sirens and other audible warning devices on academy grounds is prohibited. |