Fire Technologies

The Lakes Region Community College Fire Technologies Department offers a certificate and an Associate’s degree in Fire Science . 

The program is designed and focusses on providing entry-level education and technical skills in fire science and Emergency Medical Services (EMS) and prepares graduates for employment as members of fire departments, EMS agencies, insurance companies, and other emergency response employers.  

Both tracks include the opportunity to earn Pro Board accredited National Fire Protection Association Firefighter Level I and II, Hazardous Materials Awareness and Operations certifications, and at least their National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians certification. Students seeking their degree enroll in additional classes covering a broader range of knowledge in firefighting, fire behavior and combustion, fire prevention and protection, building construction, fire investigation, fire and life safety education, fire department administration, and EMS.  

To enhance our students educational experience LRCC has partnered with fire departments throughout New Hampshire allowing our students the opportunity to work, train and even live as interns to gain practical fire and EMS experience.  For those already employed in the fire service, our degree will help them both increase their knowledge and advance their career. 

The Lakes Region Community College Fire Science program is recognized by the United States National Fire Academy as a Fire and Emergency Services Higher Education (FESHE) program meeting their standard of excellence.  

Upon completion of our program Fire Science graduates will be able to: 

  1. Understand the history, development and organization of fire and emergency services departments. 

  2. Examine and describe the National Fire Academy FESHE Model Curriculum. 

  3. Compare and contrast careers in fire and emergency services. 

  1. Demonstrate an understanding of online learning, information literacy, time-management, self-confidence, self-motivation, and setting long and short-term career goals. 

  1. Explain the emergency service culture and history related to the national firefighter life safety initiatives.  

  1. Explain the importance of maintaining physical, mental, financial, and emotional health and wellbeing. 

  1. Demonstrate the basic firefighting knowledge and skills needed to become certified as a Firefighter I and Firefighter II earning Pro Board certification.  

  1. Demonstrate the basic knowledge and skills of an Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) for National Registry of EMTs (NREMT) certification. 

  1. Evaluate laws, rules, regulations, and codes as they relate to fire prevention. 

  1. Explain how code enforcement as it impacts life and property loss. 

  1. Identify and summarize the fundamental theories of fire behavior and combustion. 

  1. Identify and describe various types and uses of fire protection systems and extinguishing agents. 

  1. Describe the basic elements of a public water supply system as it relates to fire protection. 

  1. Identify various classifications of building construction and describe how fire impacts major types of building construction. 

  1. Understand the value of higher education to the professionalization of the fire and EMS service.  

Degrees and Certificates

Courses

FIRE124L: Principles of Emergency Services

This course provides an overview to fire protection and emergency services; career opportunities in fire protection and related fields; culture and history of emergency services; fire loss analysis; organization and function of public and private fire protection services; fire departments as part of local government; laws and regulations affecting the fire service; fire service nomenclature; specific fire protection functions; basic fire chemistry and physics; introduction to fore protection systems, introduction to fire strategy and tactics; life safety initiatives.

FIRE131L: Fire Protection Systems

This course provides information relating to the features of design and operation of fire alarm systems, water-based fire suppression systems, special hazard fire suppression systems, water supply for fire protection and portable fire extinguishers.

FIRE136L: Fire-ground Procedures

This course teaches the student basic fire-ground procedures including fire department organization, forcible entry, fire behavior, personal protective equipment, and other related subjects necessary for entry-level firefighters. Successful completion of this course certifies the student in Firefighter I through the State of NH Fire Standards and Training.

FIRE140L: Building Construction for Fire Protection

This course provides the components of building construction related to firefighter and life safety. The elements of construction and design of structures are shown to be key factors when inspecting building, preplanning fire operations, and operating at emergencies.

FIRE160L: Fire Prevention

This course provides fundamental knowledge relating to the field of fire prevention. Topics include: history and philosophy of fire prevention; organization and operation of a fire prevention bureau; use and application of codes and standards; plans review; fire inspections; fire and life safety education; and fire investigation.

FIRE180L: Firefighter I & II

This course teaches the student basic and advance fireground topics including fire department organization, fire behavior, personal protective equipment, fire attack hose handling, ventilation, rescue skills, incident command, vehicle extraction, water supply, and other subjects necessary for entry-level firefighters. Successful completion of this course provides PRO BOARD certification in Firefighter I and II through the New Hampshire Fire Standards and Training Commission.

FIRE200L: Advanced Fire-Ground Procedures

Teaches the student advanced fire-ground procedures, incident command system, vehicle rescue and extrication, water supply, foam streams, detection systems, and other related subjects necessary for entry-level firefighters. Successful completion of this course certifies the student in Firefighter II through the State of NH Fire Standards and Training.

FIRE210L: Fire Inspector I

This course provides the student with than in-depth review of the skills attendant to the duties of a Fire Inspector. The student will learn the minimum tasks required of a Fire Inspector. Included in this course are research, interpretation of codes, implementing policy, testifying at legal proceedings, creating forms and job aids, code enforcement inspections and analysis of new and existing structures of this course certifies the student in Fire Inspector I through the state of NH Fire and Standards and Training.

FIRE224L: Strategy and Tactics

This course provides the principles of fire-ground control through utilization of personal, equipment, and extinguishing agents.

FIRE225L: Emergency Medical Technician - Basic

This course covers all emergency medical techniques required of the Emergency Medical Technicians in the provision of emergency care with an ambulance/fire service. Successful completion of the course allows the student to sit for the National Registry of Emergency Technicians'92 written and practical examination.

FIRE230L: Advanced Fire Codes and Standards

This course prepares the student to use fire codes and standards at an advanced level. An in-depth study of common fire codes provides the student with the knowledge needed to perform fire inspections and fire investigations, review fire protection system designs, understand electrical installations and have the resources to answer code related questions pertaining to fire protection.

FIRE231L: Hazardous Material Chemistry

This course provides basic chemistry relating to the categories of hazardous materials including recognition, identification, reactivity, and health hazards encountered by emergency services.

FIRE236L: Fire Investigation I

This course is intended to provide the students with the fundamentals and technical knowledge needed for proper fire scene interpretations, including recognizing, and conducting origin and cause, preservation of evidence and documentation, scene security, motives of the fire-setter, and types of fire causes.

FIRE237L: Fire Investigation II

This course is intended to provide the student with advanced technical knowledge on the rule of law, fire scene analysis, fire behavior, evidence collection and preservation, scene documentation, case preparation and court-room testimony.

FIRE238L: Advanced Emergency Medical Technician

This course covers the knowledge and skill of the Advanced Emergency Medical Technician to prepare the student for a career in the fields of Emergency Medical Services or Fire Science. Successful completion of this course and related clinical requirements enables the student to become eligible for the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians (NREMT), cognitive and psychomotor examinations.

FIRE243L: Educational Methodology

Educational Methodology explores the learning and teaching processes. The course covers behavioral objectives, lesson plans, training aids, factors that influence the learning climate, learning disabilities, testing and measurement, method of instruction, and other pertinent topics conducive to the field of education. This course prepares students to complete the Fire Instructor I program with the State of New Hampshire Fire Standards and Training Commission.

FIRE250L: Fire Protection Hydraulics and Water Supply

This course provides a foundation of theoretical knowledge in order to understand the principles of the use of water in fire protection and to apply hydraulic principles to analyze and to solve water supply problems.

FIRE256L: Community Fire and Risk Analysis

This course provides training in analyzing data, identifying problems, and formulating objectives, analyzing casual factors, developing selection criteria, identifying alternative solutions, developing implementation strategies, and designing an evaluation plan. Upon completion, the student will be able to evaluate the community needs associated with all hazards, to select and evaluate the most efficient system in developing community fire protection programs, and to define and design a fire and life safety system for a jurisdiction.

FIRE281L: Fire and Emergency Services Administration

This course introduces the student to the organization and management of a fire and emergency services department and the relationship of government agencies to the fire service. Emphasis is placed on fire and emergency service, ethics and leadership from perspective of the company officer.

FIRE290L: Contemporary Issues in Fire and Emergency Services

This course explores the real-world challenges and contemporary issues shaping modern emergency response.  Students will examine key topics, including leadership and supervision, health and safety, wellness, and emerging threats, analyzing their impact on the safe delivery of fire and emergency services.  Emphasizing critical thinking, problem identification, and trend analysis, the course equips students with the skills to assess and address complex issues in the field.  Through case studies, collaborative discussions, and projects, students will develop the knowledge and practical expertise needed to navigate the dynamic landscape of fire and emergency services effectively.