Welcome to Fire Technology

Welcome to the Los Angeles Valley College Program in Fire Technology. A career in the Fire Service is both challenging and rewarding. Fire Suppression is only one of a wide variety of duties performed by the firefighters. In fact, approximately 85% of all fire departments responses are to emergency medical calls. Other typical assignments may include Fire Prevention education, commercial and residential fire inspections, community outreach and service, post-fire salvage and cleanup and equipment maintenance.

Fire service agencies in the near future will be requiring their recruits to have a college education.

Though a Firefighter 1 Certificate and EMT Certificate meet minimum qualifications to apply for employment with most agencies, it is the people with college degrees who are getting the entry level positions. Higher education is essential for chief officers who must deal with budgets, personnel, liability and other complex issues.

Men and women qualified for employment in the fire service profession possess:

• The ability to carry a great deal of responsibility and handle difficult emergency situations.
• The ability to communicate effectively with persons of various cultural, economic and
  ethnic backgrounds.
• The desire and ability to adapt to technological and sociological changes.
• The mental capacity to learn a wide variety of subjects quickly and correctly.
• The emotional maturity to remain calm and objective and provide leadership in
  emotionally charged situations.
• The physical and mental endurance to perform exacting duties.

The Fire Technology program prepares students to meet the high standards required to pursue a career in the fire service as a firefighter or a member of related fire protection services. Through the expertise of our faculty and exposure to professional fire service personnel, students may expect to be trained in the most current theories and techniques of fire technology, fire fighting skills and emergency medical training.

Our EMT course, Fire Tech 96 (EMT) covers the didactic education, clinical experience in an ambulance, (two 10-hour observational ride-a-longs with a minimum of ten patient contacts) and skill development of pre-hospital concepts, theories and practices required of the Emergency Medical Technician.

Students will be able to successfully demonstrate the EMT skill set at an acceptable level as required by national, state and local regulations.

IMPORTANT STUDENT LINKS

Career/Transfer Center
Excellent LAVC resource to help you chart your future

Salary Surfer
Find out how much a specific job pays

Career Cafe
A virtual career center