Central Iowa is home to some of the fastest growing cities in America. With that substantial growth, comes a need for firefighter positions. According to the Bureau of Labor Statics, employment of firefighters is projected to grow 7 percent from 2016 to 2026, about as fast as the average for all occupations. Career departments, volunteer departments and combination fire departments combine to comprise approximately 700 fire departments throughout the state of Iowa. The Fire Science Technology program provides learning opportunities which introduce, develop and reinforce academic and occupational knowledge, skills and attitudes required for job acquisition, retention and advancement.
At the completion of the plan of study, students with an Associate in Applied Science in Fire Science will be able to:
- Identify, examine and apply current and emerging concepts and practices in Fire and Emergency Services
- Identify apparatus, equipment and tools essential for successful fire department operations.
- Apply strategies, tactics and Incident Command/Incident Management skills to emergency incidents
- Relate the building construction type to its anticipated fire behavior in emergency situations.
- Recognize the characteristics of fire behavior and how modern and legacy fuels greatly affect firefighter safety
- Exhibit an understanding of basic principles of safety related to firefighter life safety initiatives and focusing on the need for cultural and behavioral change in Fire and Emergency Services
- Describe the importance of fire prevention and how it relates to the community, public education and the fire service.
- Compare various types of fire protection systems and explain each systems role in the fire service.
Additionally, the program provides opportunities to retrain and upgrade present knowledge and skills. With two levels of education, the DMACC Fire Technology Program offers different paths to different jobs within the fire service.
