A fire instructor is a member of the fire service who instructs firefighters of all ranks on how to work in a more safe, effective, and efficient manner. To become a fire instructor, a person must first be trained as a firefighter and then complete a series of courses aimed at providing information on current instructional techniques. Fire instructors work in a variety of settings, from firefighting schools to organizations that provide mobile training workshops to volunteer firefighters who want to improve their skills but can’t afford to travel to a firefighting school for classes.
Instructors in firefighting work both in the field and in the classroom. They discuss theory and ethical practices with their students in the classroom. Firefighting is a science, and a fire instructor’s job is to teach students about fire science so they can learn how to fight fires more effectively. Discussions about industry standard practices in firefighting, as well as firefighters’ ethical obligations, are also part of the classroom education.
When firefighters respond to fires, fire instructors may also provide medical aid training so that firefighters can respond to medical emergencies. Firefighters, like other first responders, learn cardiopulmonary resuscitation and other basic first aid skills. A fire instructor instructs students on how to use firefighting equipment in the field, and students are also taken to controlled burns and other staged emergencies to practice their skills.
Many fire instructors are members of trade associations. These organizations encourage their members to maintain a high standard of behavior and training, as well as provide networking opportunities, the opportunity to attend conferences, and trade publications that cover the latest developments in the field of firefighting. A knowledgeable fire instructor stays current on new safety protocols, equipment releases, and the ever-expanding arsenal of tools available to firefighters.
General fire training covers a variety of topics in order to equip students with the skills they need to work safely. A fire instructor can specialize in a variety of topics, including fighting oil fires, responding to terrorist attacks, high-rise fires, car fires, water rescue, and so on. A traveling fire instructor who gives classes and workshops to regional fire departments may bring a variety of equipment with him or her to demonstrate new techniques and provide specific information on topics of interest, whereas fire instructors at firefighting schools frequently have access to structures specifically designed for firefighting training, such as houses built to practice control.