Sunday May, 17 2026

Nature: Delaware State Fire School – Firefighter I-II Academy

Over the past few weeks, personnel from the Indian River Volunteer Fire Company have been pursuing their training requirements for Firefighter I-II certifications.  The Delaware State Fire School (DSFS) hosts this comprehensive training academy to provide foundational classroom instruction as well as intense hands-on skills practice.  This curriculum prepares the candidates to meet national standards, preparing them to serve confidently within the Delaware Fire Service.

The Academy Core Curriculum integrates theoretical knowledge with realistic fire ground simulations.  Content aligns with standard firefighter frameworks, included NFPA 1001 (Firefighter I & II), NFPA 1006 (Vehicle Rescue), and NFPA 1072.472 (Hazardous Materials) as well as:

• Basic Firefighting Skills:  Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA), knot tying, and hose handling.

• Structural Firefighting:  Multi-story residential and commercial fire simulation attack evolutions

• Hazardous Materials:  Training at both the Awareness and Operational levels

• Rescue Operations:  Traditional vehicle rescue and vehicle extrication skills

• Medical Training:  Courses include options or prerequisites for Emergency Medical Responder (EMR) or National Registry Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) certifications.

These academies run as a sequential, multi-month training block typically lasting around 3-months.

Recently, the Indian River Volunteer Fire Company participated in the various training evolutions as the Delaware State Fire School – Dover Campus and allowed for apparatus to participate in order to acclimate course attendees with their specific apparatus as well as units from other fire companies in Delaware.