Fire Science Program Overview
Firefighting is one of the most demanding, fulfilling and rewarding professions there is. Every city and town around the world relies on firefighters to keep them safe, mitigate emergencies, and educate their citizens in fire prevention. Whether an emergency be fire or EMS-related, rest assured that there will be graduates from this program on the scene. Graduates have two options moving forward after they complete this degree. They can either seek employment or transfer to a four-year institution. The program is recognized by the United States Fire Administration through the Fire and Emergency Services Higher Education Program.
LRCC is a FESHE Certified Institution
The Fire and Emergency Services Higher Education (FEHSE) Recognition certificate is an acknowledgement that the collegiate emergency services degree program meets the minimum standards of excellence established by FESHE professional development committees and the National Fire Academy (NFA).
Career Opportunities
- Firefighter
- Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Provider
- Public Safety Telecommunicator
Program Outcomes
Upon completion of our program, Fire Science graduates will be able to:
- Understand the history, development and organization of fire and emergency services departments.
- Examine and describe the National Fire Academy FESHE Model Curriculum.
- Compare and contrast careers in fire and emergency services.
- Demonstrate an understanding of online learning, information literacy, time-management, self-confidence, self-motivation, and setting long and short-term career goals.
- Explain the emergency service culture and history related to the national firefighter life safety initiatives.
- Explain the importance of maintaining physical, mental, financial, and emotional health and wellbeing.
- Demonstrate the basic firefighting knowledge and skills needed to become certified as a Firefighter I and Firefighter II earning Pro Board certification.
- Demonstrate the basic knowledge and skills of an Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) for National Registry of EMTs (NREMT) certification.
- Evaluate laws, rules, regulations, and codes as they relate to fire prevention.
- Explain how code enforcement as it impacts life and property loss.
- Identify and summarize the fundamental theories of fire behavior and combustion.
- Identify and describe various types and uses of fire protection systems and extinguishing agents.
- Describe the basic elements of a public water supply system as it relates to fire protection.
- Identify various classifications of building construction and describe how fire impacts major types of building construction.
- Understand the value of higher education to the professionalization of the fire and EMS service.
Total Credits: 3 Total Credits: 3 Total Credits: 3 Total Credits: 6 Total Credits: 3Course Sequencing
First Year
Mathematics Elective (3 credits)
Second Year
Science Elective (3 credits)
Humanities/Fine Arts/Foreign Language Elective
Fire Science Elective
Social Science Elective
Course Sequencing
Certificate Requirements
Students are expected to:
- Have command of the English language;
- Have a high school diploma or equivalent;
- Not have a felony conviction
- Have reading comprehension skills sufficient to read and comprehend service literature;
- Have communication skills sufficient to prepare and present required reports;
- Have sufficient hearing to distinguish various sounds and noises;
- Have sufficient dexterity to perform manual skills;
- Have the ability to stand for extended periods of time;
- Have normal vision for reading instructions and course materials and for performing manipulative tasks;
- Be able to work in a fire, emergency medical or hazardous material environment;
- Be able to wear fire protective clothing and a self-contained breathing apparatus for an extended period of time;
- Have the ability to concentrate on the execution of treatment plans, assigned skills, and tasks as well as the integration and communication of this work for both short and long term periods of time;
- Have the ability to work in settings that may lend themselves to frequent interruptions and immediate crisis response;
- Have the ability to cope with a variety of stressors, including people-place occurrences, and demonstrate safe and required care for individuals and the workplace as a whole;
- Have the ability to secure transportation to the NH Fire Academy and to other sites;
- Have the ability to consistently attend and participate in classes;
- Have the physical strength necessary for maneuvering and/or lifting heavy objects;
- Have the ability to climb and work on ladders, including heights above 100 feet;
- Have the ability to work in confined spaces while using self-contained breathing apparatus;
- Have the ability to exercise initiative and judgment while dealing with changing situations.
Nick Mercuri
Fire TechnologyProfessor, Fire Technology; Department Chair, Fire Technology
Associates Degree
Certificate