Welcome to Fire Technology!
Please read
this article about
Suggested Pathway to
Obtaining a Permanent,
Fully Paid, Firefighter Position
Fire Technology
Pre-Fire Technician
Hazardous Substance and Waste Handling Technician
- Hazmat
Worker
- Wildland Fire Technology
Whether you want to prepare for a career as a firefighter or complete your in-service training for advancement, you can take advantage of the education programs in Fire Technology offered at Solano Community College. Established under direction of Solano County fire protection agencies, the program offers both an intensive 30-unit training course toward a Certificate of Achievement, or a well-rounded 60-unit education program leading to the Associate in Science Degree. Instructors in the Fire Tech program at Solano Community College are experienced members of the fire service field. All the courses are scheduled to allow employed firefighters to complete their studies around irregular working hours.
The Fire Tech curriculum at Solano Community College is designed as professional training for people interested in, and qualified for, a career in fire service. The program offers practical and technical instruction to meet ever increasing demands and continuous upgrading by fire service agencies. Many satisfying positions exist in the field of fire service at local and state levels and in commercial or private industry.
Your New Skills
You will learn the art and science of fire fighting and protection. You will
learn the characteristics of fires in different types of materials, and you
will practice with different types of extinguishing agents. You will be
shown the principles of care, maintenance, and functions of dozens of pieces
of equipment the firefighter uses on the job. You will become familiar with
basic hydraulic laws applied to fire situations, manpower requirements,
methods of attacking fires, preplanning tactics and review chemistry. You
will learn how to watch for signs of arson, preserve physical evidence,
interview witnesses and testify in court. You will study basic factors of
building construction that can aid or hinder in fire protection, and you
will learn how to inspect building systematically for code violations. You
will also review handling and storage of combustible materials and the
technique of rescue operations.
| Required Courses | Units | |
| *FIRE 050—Fire Protection Organization | 3 | |
| FIRE 051—Fire Behavior & Combustion | 3 | |
| FIRE 053—Fire Prevention Tech. | 3 | |
| FIRE 054—Fire Protection Equipment & Systems | 3 | |
| FIRE 055—Fund. of Fire Service Operations | 3 | |
| FIRE 056—Building Construction for the Fire Service | 3 | |
| 12 units from electives below | 12 | |
| 30 |
Select 12 units from the following electives
| ECTN 102 (1 unit) | FIRE 060 (3 units) | FIRE 083 (2 units) |
| FIRE 112 (3 units) | FIRE 113 (12 units) | FIRE 114 (3 units) |
| FIRE 117 (2 units) | FIRE 118 (2 units) | FIRE 119 (2 units) |
| *FIRE 120 (3 units) | FIRE 134 (2 units) | FIRE 135 (2 units) |
| FIRE 140 (18 units) | FIRE 145 (2 units) | FIRE 146 (2 units) |
| FIRE 148Q-U (2 units/ea) | FIRE 150 (2 units) | FIRE 151 (2 units) |
| FIRE 155 (0.5 units) | FIRE 161 (2 units) | FIRE 170 (2 units) |
| FIRE 171 (2 units) | FIRE 250 (3 units) | FIRE 251 (2 units) |
| OCED 090 (4 units) |
*Fire service personnel may take Fire Technology electives in lieu of these courses providing they are a current EMT and CPR card holder.
To achieve the…
Associate in Science Degree — Completion of a total of 60 units, including the 30-unit major, general education requirements and electives.
Certificate of Achievement — Completion of the 30-unit major.
The Pre-Fire Technician Program at Solano Community College is the first of its kind in California, and probably the United States. Taught by a cadre of instructors, this program will provide all the necessary ingredients to prepare successful students for becoming a Pre-Fire Technician working in the wildland urban Interface areas of California, and beyond.
Pre-Fire Technician Field Work
It is anticipated that students who successfully pass the academic portion of the Pre-Fire Technician Course with at least a letter grade of “B” will be eligible for a pre-fire Field Work program co-sponsored by Solano Community College. The program will be for a minimum of one year working for a licensed arborist/horticulturalist, master gardener, registered professional forester, landscape designer, fire prevention/code enforcement officer, or other closely allied profession.
Grandparent Clause
Students who successfully pass the academic portion of the Pre-Fire Technician Course with at least a letter grade “B” who have at least six months of experience as an arborist/horticulturalist, registered professional forester, landscape designer, fire prevention/code enforcement officer or closely allied filed can seek approval from the SCC Dean of Career Technical Education to have the Pre-Fire Field Work Program waived.
VISION:
It is our vision that students who graduate from the Solano Community College Pre-Fire Technician Program will certified as a Pre-Fire Technician. Furthermore, those students who are certified as a Pre-Fire Technician, who successfully complete a six (6) month Pre-Fire Technician Field Work Program under the tutorship of one of the professions listed below will become qualified as a Pre-Fire Technician. Once a student becomes certified and qualified as a Pre-Fire Technician, he or she will posses all of the basic requisite skills to successfully perform as a Pre-Fire Technician under the direction of a professional in one (or more) of the following professions:
Registered Professional Forester
Licensed Arborist
Master Gardener
Horticulturalist
Forestry and Urban Nursery Manager
Fire District/Dept. Fire Prevention/Code Enforcement Officer
City/County/Sate Plans Reviewer or Zoning Officer
Private Pre-Fire/Defensible Space Specialty Firm Manager
Landscape Designer
Farm or UC Extension Advisor
Public Electric Utility Vegetation Manager
Other Closely Allied Professional
To achieve the…
Certificate of Achievement — Completion of the 17-unit major.
Hazardous Substance and Waste
Handling Technician
| Required Courses | Units | |
| FIRE 050—Intro. To Fire Technology | 3 | |
| FIRE 102—Fire Service Safety Practices | 3 | |
| FIRE 112—Hazardous Materials I | 3 | |
| FIRE 115—Hazardous Waste Operations | 2 | |
| FIRE 116—Hazardous Waste Management | 3 | |
| FIRE 123—Fire Service Principles & Procedures 1 | 3 | |
| INDMG 172—Industrial Safety OR INDMG 173—Occupational Safety & Health |
3 | |
| 20 |
Recommended Electives:
| OCED 091 | FIRE 114 |
| Required Courses | Units | |
| FIRE 115—Hazardous Waste Operations | 2 | |
| FIRE 128—Emergency Care of the Sick and Injured | 1 | |
| 3 |
| Required Courses | Units | |
| FIRE 060—Wildland Pyrophyte Taxonomy | 3 | |
| FIRE 113—Wildland Figherfighter Academy | 12 | |
| 15 |
To achieve the…
Associate in Science Degree — Not available for this program.
Certificate of Achievement — Completing the courses listed.
Job Direct Certificate— You can earn a Job Direct Certificate as a Hazmat Worker by completing the three units as listed.
All courses for Job-Direct Certificates must be completed with a grade of “C” or better.
This page last updated 10/13/08 by Jamie Smith.