Your Information

  • Registration if you are only attending classes for one of the weekends.

  • Registration if you are attending classes for both weekends.

  • Registration if you are only attending classes for one of the weekends.
    Invoice will be sent to your department.

  • Registration if you are attending classes for both weekends.
    Invoice will be sent to your department.

The Raleigh County First Responder School is put on by the Raleigh County Fire Fighters Association. For more information on the RCFFA, contact Jason Redden (President, Beaver VFD) or  David Wriston II (Secretary/Treasurer, Bradley-Prosperity VFD) or email the school at [email protected].

If your selected courses are not available, RCFRS will contact the email on the registration to attempt secondary or tertiary placement. If placement is unavailable, a refund will be issued.

If you are registering using the Invoice to Department option, an invoice will be submitted to your department with the assumption that you have approval by your department to register as such. If your department informs the RCFRS that you did not have approval to register using an invoice, you will be invoiced directly and become personally responsible for the balance.

Sessions*

  • Firefighter 1 - Module 1

    Both Weekends
    Instructor: David Wriston II
    Hours: 36.5
    Course ID: 001
    The Firefighter 1 Module 1 course is an introductory training program aligned with NFPA 1001 standards. Core Topics Covered: History and cultural organization of the fire service; firefighter safety and health protocols; Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus (SCBA) use; fire department communications and radio procedures; introduction to the Incident Command System (ICS); Basic First Aid, CPR, and Hazardous Materials (HazMat) Awareness.

    Course Requirements: Minimum age requirements (typically 16 or 18 years old depending on local jurisdiction); physical ability to handle demanding training scenarios.

    Full turnout gear will need to be brought to class each day.

  • Driver/Pumper Operator

    Both Weekends
    Instructor: Sean Wyatt
    Hours: 40
    Course ID: 002
    Develops safe emergency vehicle and pumper/operator fundamentals. Expected topics include apparatus inspection, safe driving and positioning, pump controls, fire service hydraulics, pressure and flow calculations, drafting, hydrant operations, relay pumping, water supply, troubleshooting, communications, and practial pumping evolutions.

  • Rope Rescue Awareness

    September 18 (Weekend 1)
    Instructor: Josh England
    Hours: 4
    Course ID: 101
    Introduces scene size up, hazard recognition, rescue limitations, resource needs, safety zones, communications, and the identification of common rope rescue equipment. The awareness-level responer recognizes the problem and supports a safe response without entering the technical rescue system.

  • Auto Extrication Awareness

    September 18 (Weekend 1)
    Instructor: Josh Davis
    Hours: 4
    Course ID: 102
    Covers scene safety, vehicle anatomy, stabilization concepts, hazard recognition, energy isolation, responder roles, tool identification, patient protection, and the limits of the awareness-level responder.

  • Firefighter Rehabilitation: EMS Responsibilities, Fire Officer Accountability, and the Science Behind Saving Firefighters

    September 19 (Weekend 1)
    Instructor: Scott Hale
    Hours: 3
    Course ID: 111
    CEs: 3
    Target audience includes: firefighters, fire officers, company officers, incident commanders, EMS providers, EMS supervisors, emergency physicians, fire chiefs, and safety officers.

    At the conclusion of this presentation, participants will be able to:

    Explain the physiology of firefighting and why rehab is a life safety function.
    Describe the responsibilities of the Incident Commander, Safety Officer, Fire Officer, and EMS personnel during rehabilitation operations.
    Identify when firefighter rehabilitation should be established according to current NFPA guidance.
    Discuss proper EMS staging at fire scenes and common apparatus placement errors.
    Perform comprehensive firefighter rehabilitation assessments and determine return-to-duty or transport decisions.
    Develop department-specific rehabilitation policies that align with current NFPA standards and best practices. Current NFPA guidance incorporates firefighter rehabilitation into occupational health and incident management, with dedicated chapters addressing incident-scene rehabilitation.

  • Trauma Resuscitation Beyond Blood: What Plasma Can Do for EMS and Early Trauma Resuscitation

    September 19 (Weekend 1)
    Instructor: Scott Hale
    Hours: 2
    Course ID: 112
    CEs: 2
    Target audience includes: EMS providers, Critical Care Paramedics, flight crews, emergency nurses, emergency physicians, trauma surgeons, trauma program managers, medical directors

    At the conclusion of this presentation, participants will be able to:

    Describe the pathophysiology of trauma-induced hemorrhagic shock.
    Explain why crystalloid-first resuscitation is no longer considered best practice for patients with life-threatening hemorrhage.
    Discuss the physiologic effects of plasma beyond simple volume replacement.
    Review the current evidence supporting prehospital plasma administration.
    Identify practical strategies EMS agencies can use to incorporate plasma into damage-control resuscitation programs. Recent evidence supports plasma as part of a hemostatic resuscitation strategy, particularly in critical care transport systems when whole blood is unavailable.

  • When the Pack is Empty: Primitive Wilderness Medicine

    September 19 (Weekend 1)
    Instructor: Beth Hammons
    Hours: 4
    Course ID: 113
    CEs: 4
    Wilderness emergencies rarely happen where the ambulance can pull up beside the patient. This hands-on course focuses on providing effective medical care when conventional equipment, medications, and resources are unavailable or severely limited. Students will learn to assess patients, prioritize life threats, improvise medical equipment from available materials, manage common wilderness injuries and illnesses, and make sound decisions regarding stabilization, movement, evacuation, and prolonged care.

    Emphasis will be placed on practical problem-solving, resourcefulness, environmental considerations, and adapting standard medical principles to austere environments.

  • Protecting Our Own: Firefighter Injuries & Medical Emergencies

    September 19 (Weekend 1)
    Instructor: Beth Hammons
    Hours: 4
    Course ID: 114
    CEs: 4
    Firefighters operate in an environment that places extraordinary demands on the cardiovascular, respiratory, musculoskeletal, and thermoregulatory systems. This course teaches firefighters how to recognize common injuries and medical emergencies affecting their own crews and what they can do during the critical minutes before additional medical resources are available.

    Students will examine warning signs that are easily dismissed during operations, including heat illness, dehydration, cardiac events, respiratory problems, overexertion, musculoskeletal injuries, burns, toxic exposures, and other fireground-related emergencies. Particular attention will be given to distinguishing normal exertional effects from signs that a firefighter is becoming seriously ill or injured.

    The course emphasizes early recognition, peer assessment, immediate interventions, communication with EMS, and preventing a minor problem from becoming a firefighter rescue.

  • The Next Generation in the Fire Service...What Are We Going to Do with Them

    September 20 (Weekend 1)
    Instructor: Doug Cline
    Hours: 1.5
    Course ID: 121
    The fire service is experiencing a generational shift, bringing with it new perspectives, values, and expectations that challenge long-standing traditions. This course explores the opportunities and complexities of integrating the next generation of firefighters into today’s organizations. Participants will examine the characteristics, motivations, and learning styles of emerging personnel, while also identifying the cultural and operational gaps that often arise between generations.

  • Ways to Motivate and Inspire the Next Generation

    September 20 (Weekend 1)
    Instructor: Doug Cline
    Hours: 1.5
    Course ID: 122
    An organization's most valued and important asset is their people. It is just that plain and simple. It is important to understand who your people really are. According to information from the U.S. Department of Labor, Millennials still make up the largest share of the labor force, Gen Z professionals have officially surpassed the number of baby boomers. Now we are soon going to be mixing in the early born of Generation Alpha. Combining all of these groups into the fire service creates a melting pot of generational differences. However, bridging the generational gaps and helping motivate these diverse groups and emerging leaders is a key component to elevating any organization. This dynamic program will dive into what drives these individuals and what they have that is different and similar. You will get tips on how to motivate, inspire and cultivate the future Fire Service Generations.

  • Strategic Decision Making at Commercial Fires

    September 20 (Weekend 1)
    Instructor: Doug Cline
    Hours: 3
    Course ID: 123
    Strategic decision-making at commercial structure fires is one of the most critical responsibilities of the incident commander. The determination to operate in an offensive or defensive mode establishes the overall incident strategy, directly influencing firefighter safety, operational effectiveness, and incident outcomes. Commercial occupancies present unique challenges due to complex building construction, large fire loads, and the increased potential for catastrophic structural collapse.

    This course examines the critical thought processes, risk assessment principles, and operational criteria that incident commanders should evaluate when making strategic decisions at commercial fire incidents. Participants will explore factors that influence offensive and defensive operations, identify indicators of structural instability, and apply evidence-based decision-making to balance life safety, property conservation, and firefighter survivability. Through practical discussion and real-world case studies, attendees will strengthen their ability to develop sound strategic plans while minimizing the risk of firefighter injury or line-of-duty death.

  • Cold Weather Emergencies

    September 20 (Weekend 1)
    Instructor: Air Evac 121
    Hours: 2
    Course ID: 124
    CEs: 2
    As cold weather approaches, this course will help prepare first responders for how to address cold weather health-related issues, proper gear selection, emergency first aid, and survival skills.

  • Landing Zone Operations

    September 20 (Weekend 1)
    Instructor: Air Evac
    Hours: 4
    Course ID: 125
    CEs: 4
    Landing Zone Refresher Time! 🚁

    With warmer weather returning, it’s that time of year again for our annual Landing Zone (LZ) refresher courses!

    Air Evac is proud to partner with our local agencies to ensure safe, efficient, and coordinated operations on every scene.

    If your agency is due for a refresher, we’d love to train with you:
    👮 Police Departments
    🚓 Sheriff’s Offices
    🚑 EMS Services
    🚒 Fire Departments
    🏥 Hospitals

  • Arson Investigation 1

    September 19-20 (Weekend 1)
    Instructor: Jason Baltic
    Hours: 16
    Course ID: 131
    Introduces the organized investigation of fire scenes. Anticipated topics include investigator safety, scene preservation, legal considerations, fire behavior, determining area and point of origin, recognizing potential ignition sources, evidence handling, documentation, photography, interviews, report writing, and coordination with law enforcement and insurance investigators.

  • Rope Rescue Operations

    September 19-20 (Weekend 1)
    Instructor: Josh England
    Hours: 20
    Course ID: 132
    Develops basic rescue capability using approved rope rescue equipment, methods, and team procedures. Topics may include knots, anchors, belay systems, lowering and raising systems, patient packaging, low- and high-angle movement, edge management, and operational communications.
    Hands-on course - anticipated rescue PPE and harness requirements.
    Prerequisite - Rope Rescue Awareness

  • Auto Extrication Operations

    September 19-20 (Weekend 1)
    Instructor: Josh Davis
    Hours: 20
    Course ID: 133
    Provides practical training in vehicle stabilization, glass management, access and egress, patient protection, hydraulic and hand-tool operations, component removal, disentanglement, and team-based passenger vehicle resuce.
    Full PPE required.
    Prerequisite - Auto Extrication Awareness

  • First Due Tactics

    September 26 (Weekend 2)
    Instructor: Doug Cline
    Hours: 8
    Course ID: 211
    “First Due Fire Ground Tactics” is an essential course designed to prepare fire service personnel for the critical decisions and actions required during the initial moments of a fire incident. Focused on the operations of the first-arriving unit, this course provides students with the tactical knowledge and practical skills needed to establish effective command, ensure crew safety, and initiate impactful fireground operations.

    Participants will explore size-up procedures, tactical priorities, resource deployment, and task assignments based on occupancy type, fire conditions, and available manpower. Emphasis is placed on rapid decision-making, effective communication, and mission-focused leadership that directly influence the outcome of the incident.

    Whether arriving on a single engine or as part of a larger response, students will gain confidence in executing sound tactics that lay the foundation for successful incident mitigation.

  • When the Pack is Empty: Primitive Wilderness Medicine

    September 26 (Weekend 2)
    Instructor: Beth Hammons
    Hours: 4
    Course ID: 212
    CEs: 4
    Wilderness emergencies rarely happen where the ambulance can pull up beside the patient. This hands-on course focuses on providing effective medical care when conventional equipment, medications, and resources are unavailable or severely limited. Students will learn to assess patients, prioritize life threats, improvise medical equipment from available materials, manage common wilderness injuries and illnesses, and make sound decisions regarding stabilization, movement, evacuation, and prolonged care.

    Emphasis will be placed on practical problem-solving, resourcefulness, environmental considerations, and adapting standard medical principles to austere environments.

  • Protecting Our Own: Firefighter Injuries & Medical Emergencies

    September 26 (Weekend 2)
    Instructor: Beth Hammons
    Hours: 4
    Course ID: 213
    CEs: 4
    Firefighters operate in an environment that places extraordinary demands on the cardiovascular, respiratory, musculoskeletal, and thermoregulatory systems. This course teaches firefighters how to recognize common injuries and medical emergencies affecting their own crews and what they can do during the critical minutes before additional medical resources are available.

    Students will examine warning signs that are easily dismissed during operations, including heat illness, dehydration, cardiac events, respiratory problems, overexertion, musculoskeletal injuries, burns, toxic exposures, and other fireground-related emergencies. Particular attention will be given to distinguishing normal exertional effects from signs that a firefighter is becoming seriously ill or injured.

    The course emphasizes early recognition, peer assessment, immediate interventions, communication with EMS, and preventing a minor problem from becoming a firefighter rescue.

  • Fire Smoke and Cyanide: Truth and Treatment

    September 27 (Weekend 2)
    Instructor: Doug Cline
    Hours: 3
    Course ID: 221
    Fire smoke contains more than just carbon monoxide—it can also expose victims and responders to dangerous levels of cyanide. This course examines the realities of cyanide toxicity resulting from both acute and cumulative fire smoke exposure, equipping Fire and EMS professionals with the knowledge needed to recognize, assess, and respond effectively.

    Participants will learn how to differentiate cyanide toxicity from carbon monoxide poisoning, understand the physiological effects of smoke inhalation, and evaluate how current treatment practices influence patient outcomes. The course also reviews approved medical protocols for cyanide toxicity, firefighter rehabilitation practices in accordance with NFPA 1584: Standard on the Rehabilitation Process for Members During Emergency Operations and Training Exercises, and appropriate antidotal therapies for smoke inhalation victims.

    Designed for firefighters, EMS providers, and other emergency responders, this program provides practical, evidence-based information to improve patient care and responder safety during fire-related incidents.

  • Igniting Your Leadership Passion

    September 27 (Weekend 2)
    Instructor: Doug Cline
    Hours: 3
    Course ID: 222
    Leadership is more than a title—it’s a commitment to serve, inspire, and drive positive change. Igniting Your Leadership Passion is a highly engaging course designed to help fire service professionals reconnect with their purpose, identify their core leadership values, and develop the mindset and skills needed to lead with authenticity, energy, and impact.

    This course explores the intersection of personal passion and professional responsibility, encouraging participants to reflect on their leadership journey, overcome barriers to growth, and reignite their dedication to service. Through powerful case studies, interactive discussions, and self-assessment exercises, attendees will develop strategies to lead with intention, build trust, and create lasting influence within their teams and organizations.

    Whether you’re a seasoned chief officer or an emerging leader, this course provides the spark to elevate your leadership to the next level.

  • Cold Weather Emergencies

    September 27 (Weekend 2)
    Instructor: Air Evac 121
    Hours: 2
    Course ID: 223
    CEs: 2
    As cold weather approaches, this course will help prepare first responders for how to address cold weather health-related issues, proper gear selection, emergency first aid, and survival skills.

  • Landing Zone Operations

    September 27 (Weekend 2)
    Instructor: Air Evac
    Hours: 4
    Course ID: 224
    CEs: 4
    Landing Zone Refresher Time! 🚁

    With warmer weather returning, it’s that time of year again for our annual Landing Zone (LZ) refresher courses!

    Air Evac is proud to partner with our local agencies to ensure safe, efficient, and coordinated operations on every scene.

    If your agency is due for a refresher, we’d love to train with you:
    👮 Police Departments
    🚓 Sheriff’s Offices
    🚑 EMS Services
    🚒 Fire Departments
    🏥 Hospitals

  • Rope Rescue Technician

    September 26-27 (Weekend 2)
    Instructor: Josh England
    Hours: 20
    Course ID: 231
    Advances the rescuer into complex systems and technician-level problem solving. Training may include advanced anchors, high-angle movement, highlines, litter tending, system analysis, difficult edge transitions, multi-point systems, and scenario-based rescue operations.
    Advanced hands-on course - final equipment list will be issued by the instructor.
    Prerequisite - Rope Rescue Operations

  • Auto Extrication Technician

    September 26-27 (Weekend 2)
    Instructor: Josh Davis
    Hours: 20
    Course ID: 232
    Focuses on advanced passenger vehicle resuce and complex problem solving. Scenarios may include vehicles on their sides or roofs, advanced stabilization, tunneling, dash displacement, roof and side removals, alternative-fuel hazards, and coordinated patient removal.
    Full PPE required.
    Prerequisite - Auto Extrication Operations

  • Rural Water Movement

    September 26-27 (Weekend 2)
    Instructor: TBD
    Hours: 16
    Course ID: 233
    Focuses on moving sustained water flow where hydrants are limited or unavailable. Anticipated topics include water supply preplanning, tanker/tender shuttle design, fill site and dump site operations, portable tanks, jet siphons, apparatus staging, route selection, flow calculations, communciations, drafting, relay pumping, and safe coordinatior of multiple departments.

I agree not to hold the Raleigh County Firefighters Association, Academy of Technology and Careers, West Virginia Public Service Training, Raleigh County Schools, West Virginia Office of Emergency Medical Services, West Virginia University Fire Extension, or anyone else associated with the Raleigh County First Responders School responsible for any injuries that may occur to me while I am a participant in any class or function. I understand that the nature of fire and resscue classes can be hazardous and I agree to participate in a safe and responsible manner. I also confirm that I am covered under Workers Compensation Coverage at my Departement or Agency. I give my consent for my image and likeness to be videotaped, audiotaped, or photographed for use in educational or instructional media, recruitment or outreach media, development media, and newsworthy documentation to be used by the Raleigh County First Responders School and/or their associated partners. I certify that I am at least 18 years old and do not need permission to participate in any class. I acknowledge that there may be an additional fee for supplies or materials not covered in the tuition cost.

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  • Academy of Careers and Technology
  • 390 Stanaford Road, Beckley, WV, 25801 US
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