Fire Suppression Technician

FIRE SUPPRESSION TECHNICIAN– 1 YEAR CERTIFICATE
This certificate will prepare students to perform lead firefighter and apparatus operator functions. This certificate will also provide opportunities for currently employed and volunteer firefighters to obtain the education and skills necessary for their current responsibilities and to advance in the firefighting profession. The course will enhance ability of small communities to provide quality public safety services.

Upon successful completion of this program, graduates will be qualified to take exams offered by the Minnesota Fire Service Certification Board for Firefighter I and II certification; exams offered by the Emergency Medical Services Regulatory Board of Minnesota for EMT certification; and for Emergency Medical Technician-Basic state certification and national registration. Graduates may apply all credits earned in the Fire Suppression Technician Certificate towards an AAS Emergency Response Training degree at Lake Superior College.

Employment Opportunities - There is documented occupational demand for graduates of the Fire Suppression program. Both career firefighters and volunteer firefighters require the education provided by the course. Career firefighters are full-time employees with salary and benefits. Volunteers are any other individuals who fight fires. They may receive no pay at all, be paid on an hourly basis, or a per call basis. About 100 volunteer fire departments throughout the state provide no compensation at all to their volunteer firefighters. There are ninety-nine (99) volunteer departments served by Mesabi Range in northeast Minnesota.

The Minnesota Department of Economic Security reports 4,994 firefighters employed in Minnesota in 1998 with 464 employed in northeast Minnesota. MDES projects the number of available fire protection positions will be 333 per year in Minnesota and 16 in northeast Minnesota from 1998 to 2008. Employees with fire suppression technician responsibilities are included in several MDES categories: Firefighters, Firefighting and Prevention Supervisor, and Fire Inspectors.

CREDITS REQUIRED FOR GRADUATION: 24

FRESHMAN YEAR – FALL SEMESTER
FRPT 1100 Fire Fighter I 5 credits
FRPT 1105 Fire Fighter II 2 credits
FRPT 1115 Company Functions 2 credits
FRPT 1161 Building Construction for the Fire Service 3 credits
    TOTAL SEMESTER CREDITS 12

FRESHMAN YEAR – SPRING SEMESTER
EMSV 1656 Emergency Medical Technician—Basic 6 credits
(*Note: EMSV 1656 is offered through Mesabi Range’s Continuing Education Department)
FRPT 1165 Apparatus Operator 3 credits
FRPT 1175 Hazardous Material First Responder- Operational 3 credits
    TOTAL SEMESTER CREDITS 12