Fireground Support EL-26 Entry Level Firefighter Course

About the program

This 48-hour entry level course gives new firefighters a foundation in the core principles of the fire service. It covers the history, mission, organizational structure and culture of the profession, with attention to health, safety and professional conduct. Hands-on instruction builds basic fireground skills, including water supply, ropes and knots, fire hose, SCBA care and maintenance, fire extinguishers and fire behavior. Jeff Reinert and Carl Seltzer are the lead instructors.

Students must be at least 14 years old. Those ages 14 to 18 need a proper work permit from their school district, turned in on or before the first day of training. Several components are completed online: NIMS ICS-100, NIMS ICS-700, Hazardous Materials Awareness, Traffic Incident Management and enrollment in the ACADIS platform. A Fundamentals of Firefighter Skills student manual is issued at the start of class.

Bring note-taking materials and full PPE, including helmet, gloves, turnout coat and pants, boots, protective hood, ear plugs and safety glasses or goggles. Bring an SCBA for inspection, care and refill only, not for IDLH entry, plus a 15-foot length of half-inch utility rope for knot tying. The class meets at the Berks County Fire Training Site on Morgantown Road in Reading. It is the first module of the Pennsylvania State Fire Academy's Entry Level Fire Training Curriculum, and students may test for NFPA Pro Board certification in Hazardous Materials Awareness and NFPA 1010 Fireground Support. Sign up through the Berks County Fire Training Center website.

Register with Berks County Fire Training Center →