Providence Fire Academy
A required pre-requisite to be selected to become a Providence Firefighter is an Emergency Medical Technician Basic license in Rhode Island. Once employed on the department a member is required to obtain an Emergency Medical Technician Cardiac level and maintain that level of certification throughout their career. Those people selected that do not possess an EMT Basic license but have qualified for the academy will be given the opportunity to attend an EMT Basic course before the start of the Fire Academy. This accelerated EMT Basic course will be held during the Academy.
The Fire Academy is a rigorous five (5) day a week, twenty six (26) week mentally and physically demanding program. The training runs from Monday through Friday approximately 8 hours a day. The recruits are paid minimum wage and receive individual health insurance during the Fire Academy.
Recruits are required to participate in both classroom and practical skills activities at the department drill yard.
Classroom subjects include:
- fire science
- hydraulics
- building construction
- departmental rules and regulations
The practical skills covered at the drill yard include:
- SCBA Mask Confidence course
- raising and climbing all department fire ladders
- pump operations
- driver training
- suppression and ventilation tactics
- hand tools
- mechanical rescue equipment
- search and rescue operations
- other hands on skills
- physical fitness
Recruits must complete all aspects of their training in order to graduate the academy and be hired as Providence Firefighters. Recruits will need to pass several weekly quizzes on a variety of subjects, practical skills testing for both the Academy as well as NFPA 1001 Firefighter level I & II. Finally, at the end of the Academy the recruits will have to pass a final written exam and practical skills testing to graduate.
If the recruits successfully complete the Training Academy they will become members of one of the most respected Fire Department's in the Country. Known for their aggressive interior attacks and high professionalism at fires and Emergency Medical Scenes the men and women of the Providence Fire Department have received many commendations throughout the years and it all starts with training.