Firefighter Training in Clinton County

In Clinton County the firefighter training program from beginner thru to advanced classes is a partnership between the State of New York Office of Fire Prevention and Control (OFPC), The County Office of Emergency Services and the local Fire Departments. OFPC provides a common statewide, nationally recognized curriculum and certified professional instructors (State Fire Instructors or SFI's). The County provides local coordination and scheduling of classes and facilities (includes classroom and training center/tower sites) and the local fire departments provide firefighting apparatus and equipment for their students in the classes as requested by the instructors and the most important component of the partnership, the student first responder.

On an annual basis usually starting in April a year long training cycle begins with the State allotting a set number of hours to each County for SFI contact hours. In Clinton County we generally coordinate no less than two (2) Firefighter I courses, at least one (1) Firefighter II course and numerous other courses including but not limited to Basic Exterior Firefighter Operations (formerly Scene Support Operations), Accident Vehicle Extrication Technician (AVET), Emergency Vehicle Operators Course (EVOC), Building Construction, Apparatus Operator Pump, Apparatus Operator Aerial Ladder, Truck Company Operations, various Hazardous Materials courses, ICS classes (100, 200, 300 & 400 as needed) and many others. In addition, NYS Fire Academy Regional classes are offered as needed or requested.

Training classes are advertised primarily on the home page of this website when they are scheduled. Changes to scheduled date/time will be updated on the web page for the start date if changes occur well in advance. Last minute changes are generally advertised by use of the Iamresponding mass text system or via the County Fire/EMS paging system during 5pm announcements.

Sign up for training in Clinton County by clicking on the link below or by contacting Shanna Davis at the Office of Emergency Services Monday thru Friday (8:30 am - 4:30 pm) at 565-4791.

State Fire Instructors assigned to Clinton County:

1. Greg Timmons
2. Mark Lafountain
3. Mike Recore
4. Richard Stickle
5. Chad Rodier
6. Nick Pain

 Initial Firefighter Training in Clinton County

In Clinton County basic or initial firefighter training is offered in conjunction with the NYS Office of Fire Prevention and Control. Two (2) levels of initial training are offered, one being a course called Interior Firefighting Operations (IFO) and the second being Basic Exterior Firefighting Operations (BEFO) formerly Scene Support Operations. Upon successful completion of both classes including passing written tests and satisfactory demonstration of fire ground skills students will have achieved the NYS Firefighter I status. A National Certification test can also be completed at this time should the student so desire.

Firefighter I is the initial training status level that Firefighters in NYS must complete to function as interior structural firefighters. This level is a prerequesite for many other training courses.

Basic Exterior Firefighting Operations is a basic firefighting class offered to firefighters who will conduct exterior operations and during interior structural firefighting operations support the interior structural firefighters. The BEFO class will provide students the training to support fire activities that arise before, during and after fire attack with respect to their exterior only classification. Completion of this class is generally required by all Fire Departments in Clinton County for membership. Completion of this class is also required for any individuals wishing to take the Interior Firefighting Operations course and gain their Firefighter I certification.

Interior Firefighting Operations is a basic firefighting class offered to firefighters who have completed BEFO and wish to become interior structural firefighters and gain Firefighter I certification. The course concentrates on SCBA use and other skills and knowledge required for interior structural firefighting.

The BEFO/IFO classes are generally offered in series one right after the other and generally two times per year (one starting in the late winter/early spring and a second starting mid to late summer).

Admissions for both classes are based on a rolling list. Fire Chiefs and/or departmental training officers are encouraged to contact Shanna at the Office of Emergency Services to add new members needing Basic Exterior Firefighting Operations and or Interior Firefighting Operations to the potential class candidates rolling admissions list as soon as the need is determined at the department level. 

For each class OES staff will contact students from the admissions list on a "first come, first served" basis several weeks in advance of a pending class start date to confirm their ability to sit for the class offering. Calls will be made approximately 2 weeks prior to the proposed start date of each class to confirm a students admission to the class. It is the responsibility of the Fire Chief and/or student who has signed up to ensure the OES has current contact information for potential students. If OES is unable to reach a student or the student does not return calls within 3 days of being notified of a potential spot in an upcoming class that student will for go their space and it will be offered to the next student on the list. Unresponsive prospective students names will be dropped from the list and will only be added at the request of the Fire Chief thereafter.