Fire Protection Technology
The Fire Protection program offers career training in Fire Suppression and Fire Prevention. Both programs include training and education for those wanting to enter the career field and for those already employed. Chemeketa has a well-equipped fire station and training center on the Salem campus. Course work is accredited by the Oregon Board on Public Safety Standards and Training and by the International Fire Service Accreditation Congress.
Classes in this program are offered in the traditional on-campus classroom setting for students just beginning their fire protection training, and by distance education for fire service professionals active in the field. Distance education may include earning college credit for prior learning such as local training and work experience, individualized instructional contracts, transfer credits from local schools and independent study courses by modem or correspondence. For information about distance education call 503.399.6242.
Program outcomes
Students completing the Fire Suppression AAS will:
- Operate safely and effectively under general supervision as an integral member of an emergency response team and under close supervision when engaged in hazardous activities.
- Initiate, relay and respond to verbal or written communications in both non-emergency and emergency situations.
- Demonstrate and explain the daily operations of a fire station.
- Conduct risk reduction activity through hazard identification and public education.
- Interact with others in a diverse work force using formal and informal rules to accomplish organizational goals.
- Assist as a member of an advanced life support team to improve patient outcomes by performing basic life support procedures including infection control, CPR, bleeding control, and shock management.
- Drive and perform pumping operations including establishing a water supply and directing the flow of water through hose lines and appliances in appropriate volumes and pressures.
Students completing the Fire Prevention AAS will:
- Operate safely and effectively under general supervision to prevent the occurrence and severity of hostile fires, to mitigate the effect of fire on people, and to assist in the determination of the cause of such fires.
- Use fire department communications equipment to initiate, relay, and respond to verbal or written communications.
- Conduct risk reduction inspections through employing hazard identification, interpreting and applying codes and standards, and applying hazard abatement process.
- Use appropriate media to educate a variety of audiences in risk reduction.
- Conduct, coordinate, and complete basic fire cause and origin investigation and participate, under supervision, in the investigation of complex fire sitatuions.
- Interact formally and informally with others in a diverse work force to accomplish organizational goals.
- Use communication skills and media to meet the needs of internal and external customers, resolve conflicts, and explain fire prevention concepts in a manner that places a high priority on customer satisfaction.
Getting started
The first step to entering this program is to take part in an assessment process which includes taking the college's free placement test and meeting with the department program chair. You may need to complete pre-program courses. Then, your advisor will help you develop an individualized program of study.
The Fire Suppression degree program can be coordinated with the Emergency Medical Technician-Paramedic program so that both degrees can be earned in between nine and 11 terms. Dual-degree students are provided with an individualized sequence of courses that may vary depending on the term in which classes are begun. For information call 503.399.5163.
Fire Suppression
Associate of Applied Science
Most firefighters work for public fire departments. Chemeketa's program includes a variety of courses in writing, mathematics, and speech as well as technical fire protection courses. Each term, students take a Fire Incident Related Experience course which focuses on developing required skills, attitudes, and work habits. On-campus fire suppression students work a 24-hour duty shift each week and respond to actual emergency incidents under the supervision of fire department officers.
This program has special admission requirements and enrollment limits. Applications are accepted every nine months. For additional information, call 503.399.5163. The program operates year-round, including summer term.
In addition to tuition, estimated costs for students who complete the entire program listed below are books, $2,228; class fees, $174; universal fee, $600; equipment and supplies, $825. Contact the Financial Aid Office at 503.399.5018 to find out if you qualify for help with these costs.
You may earn an Associate of Applied Science degree by successfully completing the required 100 credit hours with a grade of C or better in all courses.
| Course | Title | Credit Hours |
| Term 1 | ||
| EMT151 | Emergency Medical Technician Basic, Part 1 | 5 |
| FRP150 | Introduction to Fire Protection | 3 |
| or | ||
| ES172 | Introduction to Emergency Services | 4 |
| FRP151 | Fire Incident Related Experience 1 | 3 |
| FRP157 | Hazardous Materials Operations | 3 |
| MTH070 | Elementary Algebra+ (or higher) | 4 |
| Term 2 | ||
| CH111 | Chemistry for Fire Science and Emergency Services (or higher) | 5 |
| CS101 | Introduction to Microcomputer Applications | 3 |
| EMT152B | Emergency Medical Technician Basic, Part 2 | 5 |
| FRP152 | Fire Incident Related Experience 2 | 3 |
| FRP266 | Building Construction for Fire Suppression | 3 |
| Term 3 | ||
| FRP153 | Fire Incident Related Experience 3 | 3 |
| FRP154 | Water Supply Operations | 3 |
| FRP158 | Fire Pump Construction and Operation | 3 |
| FRP169 | Fire Department Leadership | 3 |
| PH111 | Physical Science for Fire and Emergency Services (or higher) | 5 |
| Fire Suppression elective* | 3 | |
| Term 4 | ||
| FRP260 | Fundamentals of Fire Prevention | 3 |
| FRP261 | Fire Incident Related Experience 4 | 3 |
| HPE295 | Health and Fitness for Life | 3 |
| SOC204 | General Sociology—Introduction | 3 |
| WR121 | English Composition—Exposition+ (or higher) | 3 |
| Term 5 | ||
| FRP172 | International Fire Codes | 3 |
| FRP256 | Fire Service Rescue Practices | 4 |
| FRP262 | Fire Incident Related Experience 5 | 3 |
| SP115 | Introduction to Intercultural Communications | 3 |
| Term 6 | ||
| FRP171 | Fire Protection Systems and Extinguishers | 3 |
| FRP179 | Wildland Urban Interface | 3 |
| FRP263 | Fire Incident Related Experience 6 | 3 |
| PSY101 | Psychology of Human Relations+ (or higher) | 3 |
| WR227 | Technical Writing | 3 |
| *Fire Suppression electives: | ||
| AH080 | Crisis Intervention | 3 |
| BA255 | Elements of Supervision | 3 |
| BI231 | Human Anatomy and Physiology | 4 |
| BI232 | Human Anatomy and Physiology | 4 |
| BI233 | Human Anatomy and Physiology | 4 |
| BLD150 | Introduction to Building Inspection | 3 |
| BLD151 | Building Codes 1 | 3 |
| BLD152 | Building Codes 2 | 3 |
| EMT167 | Emergency Medical Technician Intermediate | 10 |
| EMT275 | Introduction to Emergency Medical Services | 3 |
| EMT280F | Cooperative Work Experience | 6 |
| FRP259 | Major Emergency Strategy and Tactics | 3 |
| FRP170 | Fire Fighting Tactics and Strategies | 3 |
| FRP173 | Law for Emergency Services | 3 |
| FRP174 | Fire Investigation | 4 |
| FRP175 | Crash/Rescue for Non-Commercial Aircraft | 1 |
| FRP286 | Advanced Detection and Protection Systems | 3 |
| FRP277 | NFPA Fire Instructor 1 | 3 |
| FRP278 | NFPA Fire Instructor 2 | 3 |
| HE262 | Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation | 2 |
| HM120 | Medical Terminology/Systems 1 | 3 |
| HUM259 | Death and Dying | 3 |
+Meets related instruction requirement.
Fire Prevention
Associate of Applied Science
Graduates of the Fire Prevention program may be hired by public fire departments and industrial businesses as fire prevention specialists.
Our Cooperative Work Experience program allows you to apply your knowledge and skills while earning college credit for working in a state or local fire prevention bureau. With the approval of the program chair, you may enroll in FRP280A-L Cooperative Work Experience and earn college credit hours. For more information, look under Cooperative Work Experience in the catalog index.
In addition to tuition, estimated costs for students who complete the entire program listed below are books, $843; class fees, $521; universal fee, $606. Contact the Financial Aid Office at 503.399.5018 to find out if you qualify for help with these costs.
You may earn an Associate of Applied Science degree by successfully completing the required 99 credit hours with a grade of C or better in all courses. For information call 503.399.6241.
| Course | Title | Credit Hours |
| Term 1 | ||
| FRP150 | Introduction to Fire Protection | 3 |
| or | ||
| ES172 | Introduction to Emergency Services | 4 |
| FRP260 | Fundamentals of Fire Prevention | 3 |
| FRP266 | Building Construction for Fire Suppression | 3 |
| MTH070 | Elementary Algebra+ (or higher) | 4 |
| WR121 | English Composition—Exposition+ (or higher) | 3 |
| Term 2 | ||
| CS101 | Introduction to Microcomputer Applications (or higher) | 3 |
| FRP172 | International Fire Codes | 3 |
| FRP281 | Fire Prevention Inspection | 3 |
| PH111 | Physical Science for Fire Science and Emergency Services | 5 |
| PSY101 | Psychology of Human Relations+ (or higher) | 3 |
| Term 3 | ||
| CH111 | Chemistry for Fire Science and Emergency Services (or higher) | 5 |
| FRP171 | Fire Protection Systems and Extinguishers | 3 |
| FRP282 | Juvenile Fire Setters Intervention | 3 |
| SP111 | Fundamentals of Public Speaking (or higher) | 3 |
| WR227 | Technical Writing | 3 |
| Term 4 | ||
| BLD151 | Building Codes 1 | 3 |
| FRP174 | Fire Investigation | 4 |
| FRP257 | Hazardous Materials for Inspectors | 3 |
| FRP280C | Cooperative Work Experience | 3 |
| Fire Prevention elective* | 3 | |
| Term 5 | ||
| BLD152 | Building Codes 2 | 3 |
| FRP173 | Law for Emergency Services | 3 |
| FRP280C | Cooperative Work Experience | 3 |
| FRP286 | Advanced Detection and Protection Systems | 3 |
| FRP288 | Fire Prevention Education Programs | 3 |
| Term 6 | ||
| BLD267 | Non-Structural Plan Review | 3 |
| FRP154 | Water Supply Operations | 3 |
| FRP179 | Wildland Urban Interface | 3 |
| FRP280C | Cooperative Work Experience | 3 |
| FRP284 | Public Information for the Fire Service | 3 |
| Fire Prevention elective* | 3 | |
| *Fire Prevention electives (select 6 credits): | ||
| BLD181 | Mechanical Codes 1 | 3 |
| CJ210 | Introduction to Criminal Investigations | 3 |
| FRP157 | Hazardous Materials Operations | 3 |
| FRP169 | Fire Department Leadership | 3 |
| FRP170 | Fire Fighting Tactics and Strategies | 3 |
| FRP179 | Wildland Urban Interface | 3 |
| FRP272 | International Fire Codes 2 | 3 |
| FRP277 | NFPA Fire Instructor 1 | 3 |
| FRP278 | NFPA Fire Instructor 2 | 3 |
| FRP286 | Advanced Detection and Protection Systems | 3 |
+Meets related instruction.
Fire Service Supervision and Management
Certificate of Completion
The Fire Service Supervision and Management program can help you prepare for promotion to officer positions; or if you are already a fire officer, you can gain valuable new skills and knowledge. The certificate program meets or exceeds NFPA and Oregon Standards for Fire Officer 1 and 2. To be admitted to the Certificate program you must be certified as Firefighter 1, or equivalent, and actively be pursuing Firefighter 2 or have an associate's degree in fire protection or possess professional certificates and have experience or equivalent credentials in fire prevention, fire training, or public fire education.
To be admitted to this program, you must be interviewed by the program chair, Bill Klein, 503.399.6240, and have your training, education, and experience evaluated. An individualized program of study will be developed for you.
In addition to tuition, estimated costs for students who complete the entire program listed below are books, $200; class fees, $75; universal fee, $312; equipment and supplies, $20. Contact the Financial Aid Office at 503.399.5018 to find out if you qualify for help with these costs.
You may earn a Certificate of Completion by successfully completing the required 52 credit hours with a grade of C or better in all courses.
| Course | Title | Credit Hours |
| Communications: | ||
| BA214 | Business Communications | 3 |
| COM051 | Communication Skills 1 (or higher) | 3 |
| WR115 | Introduction to Composition (or higher) | 3 |
| WR121 | English Composition—Exposition (or higher) | 3 |
| WR227 | Technical Writing | 3 |
| Human Relations: | ||
| PSY101 | Psychology of Human Relations (or higher) | 3 |
| SOC204 | General Sociology—Introduction (or higher) | 3 |
| Science: | ||
| CH111 | Chemistry for Fire Science and Emergency Services (or higher) | 5 |
| and | ||
| PH111 | Physical Science for Fire Science and Emergency Services (or higher) | 5 |
| (or any combination of one Chemistry and one Physics course of at least four credit hours each and include a lab component) | ||
| Term 1 | ||
| Communications+ (See requirements above) | 3 | |
| Human Relations+ (See requirements above) | 3 | |
| FRP169 | Fire Department Leadership | 3 |
| FRP173 | Law for Emergency Services | 3 |
| or | ||
| FRP166 | Firefighter's Law | 1 |
| FRP174 | Fire Investigation | 4 |
| FRP277 | NFPA Fire Instructor 1 | 3 |
| MTH052 | Introduction to Algebra and Geometry+ (or higher) | 3 |
| Term 2 | ||
| Science (see requirements above) | 4 | |
| FRP154 | Water Supply Operations | 3 |
| FRP160 | Incident Safety Officer | 1 |
| FRP161 | Fire Management Practices | 1 |
| FRP162 | Managing Fire Personnel | 1 |
| FRP163 | Planning Fire Protection | 1 |
| FRP170 | Fire Fighting Tactics and Strategy | 3 |
| FRP266 | Building Construction for Fire Suppression | 3 |
| Term 3 | ||
| Science (See requirements above) | 4 | |
| FRP164 | Fire Department Budgets | 1 |
| FRP165 | Public Relations, Public Information, and Public Education | 1 |
| FRP172 | International Fire Codes | 3 |
| FRP259 | Major Emergency Strategy and Tactics | 3 |
| PS203 | State and Local Government | 3 |
+Meets related instruction requirement.
Updated March 2007 by the College Advancement Department.