Current through Register Vol. 56, No. 18, September 16, 2024
(a)
Certification for Firefighter shall be granted to an individual who has
submitted an application for certification to the Office of Training and
Certification; is at least 18 years of age; has successfully completed the
adopted State instructional program for the certification title applied; and
successfully passed the State exams that evaluate the Job Performance
Requirements (JPRs) and components of requisite knowledge and skills contained
in the NFPA 1001, 2013 Edition, Standard for Fire Fighter Professional
Qualifications, and NFPA 472, 2018 Edition, Standard for Competence of
Responders to Hazardous Materials/Weapons of Mass Destruction Incidents,
incorporated herein by reference, as amended and supplemented.
1. Upon successful completion of the adopted
training program, or a program recognized as equivalent by the Office of
Training and Certification, an individual shall be eligible to apply for State
certification and may perform interior structural firefighting under direct
supervision.
(b) The
following firefighter titles, which are associated with the adopted standard,
shall be issued by the Office of Training and Certification:
1. Firefighter I; and
2. Firefighter II.
(c) Prior to receiving a certification as
Firefighter I, firefighter candidates grade 1 and grade 2 may perform the
designated functions after completing training topics within the adopted
training program.
1. Firefighter Candidate
Grade I.
i. Successful completion of the
Firefighter I adopted training program content: Orientation/Fire Department
Organization; Self-contained Breathing Apparatus; Self-contained Breathing
Apparatus Drill; Fire Hose, Appliances and Adapters; Fire Hose, Appliances and
Adapters Drill; Ladders; Ladders Drill; Safety; Safety Drill; and Fire
Behavior.
ii. Fire departments
shall be authorized to permit the firefighter candidate grade I to respond to
fire alarms, and under direct supervision, assist in exterior firefighting
involving laying and connecting hose lines and raising ladders.
2. Firefighter Candidate Grade II.
i. Successful completion of the Firefighter I
adopted training program content as established for firefighter candidate grade
I, and additional instruction in: Forcible Entry; Forcible Entry Drill; Ropes
and Knots; Ropes and Knots Drill; Salvage and Overhaul; Salvage and Overhaul
Drill; Sprinklers; Sprinkler Drill; Fire Alarms and Communications; Portable
Fire Extinguishers; and Fire Extinguisher Drill.
ii. Fire departments shall be authorized to
permit the firefighter candidate grade II to respond to fire alarms, and under
direct supervision, assist in all exterior firefighting operations.
(d) The Office of
Training and Certification within the Division of Fire Safety shall be
permitted to adopt a training program, establish training policies, procedures,
and forms, establish and administer exams, establish instructor qualifications
and train-the-trainer programs, and evaluate educational programs submitted by
applicants to determine equivalency towards issuance of certifications.
1. The adopted training program and
equivalency determination shall comply with the current edition of the adopted
NFPA 1001 standard. Upon an NFPA standard edition change, the Office of
Training and Certification shall have two years from the NFPA adoption date to
modify existing training programs, or adopt new training programs to comply
with the new NFPA standard edition.
2. Additional instruction shall be
incorporated into the adopted training program utilizing:
i. The N.J.A.C. 5:73
Appendix, which includes topics in fire service organization, pertinent Federal
and State standards, rules, and regulations, overview of public utilities,
propane, and carbon monoxide hazards;
ii. The Developmental Disabilities Awareness
Act,
26:2-189
, which
provides instruction in autism and intellectual developmental disabilities
awareness for first responders; and
iii. Any additional instructional topics
approved and/or directed by the Office of Training and Certification.
3. All live fire training
conducted in the adopted training program shall be conducted in accordance with
NFPA 1403, 2018 Edition, Standard on Live Fire Training Evolutions,
incorporated herein by reference, as amended and supplemented.
i. Live burn instruction shall be conducted
through a Tier-1 eligible organization, as specified in
5:73-2.2; using approved facilities, as specified in
5:73-2.4; and which possess a valid live burn Type A permit as
specified in 5:73-2.5 issued by the Office of Training and
Certification.
4.
Facilities and props used for non-live burn training shall meet the
specifications in 5:73-2.4, specific to its designated use and
design, and shall be approved by the Office of Training and
Certification.
5. Tier-1 eligible
organizations and their facilities shall be permitted to establish additional
local jurisdiction operational requirements regarding the use and training
conducted in accordance with this subchapter. Local jurisdiction requirements
shall not conflict with the intent of the training procedures or forms adopted
by the Office of Training and Certification.
