2025 Schuylkill County Training Academy Courses
All Students must pre-register for courses. No walk-ins accepted. If the minimum number of students has not been met 10 days before the start date, students will receive email notification of cancellation of the course.
There is no fee for students from member companies of the Schuylkill County Volunteer Firefighters Association.
For Non-member or Out-of-County students there is a fee. Students must bring a check made payable Schuylkill County Volunteer Firefighters Association on the first day of class.
Click here for a calendar view of courses
Hazmat Operations Annual Refresher 12/30/24 at Friendship Fire Co
Hazardous Materials Operations Annual Refresher (HMOR)
FSC: 0737 Hours: 6.0 (Lecture: 2.0hrs / Lab: 4.0hrs)
Prerequisites: Age 16 and up, Hazardous Materials Operations
Description: This course will allow a hazardous material emergency responder at the First Responder Operations Level to receive refresher training as required annually by federal regulation.
Out of County Cost: $33, please make checks payable to the Schuylkill County Volunteer Firefighters Association on the first day of class.
Instructor: Jason Witmier
Dates & Times: Monday 12/30/24 1700-2300
Location: Friendship Fire Co. #1 147 N 7th St Frackville, PA 17931
Introduction to Wildland Fire Behavior 1/7/25 at Ryan Township Fire Department
S-190 Introduction to Wildland Fire Behavior
DCNR Bureau of Forestry will be hosting a S-190 Introduction to Wildland Fire Behavior class in 2025, at Ryan Township Fire Department (945 Barnesville Dr, Barnesville, PA 18214) on January 7th and January 9th from 1800 – 2200. This course provides instruction in the primary factors affecting the start and spread of wildfire and recognition of potentially hazardous situations. S-190 is typically taught in conjunction with or prior to Basic Firefighter Training, S-130. It is designed to meet the fire behavior training needs of a Firefighter Type 2 (FFT2) on an incident. Students that successfully complete this course will receive a certificate for S-190. This course is Nationally recognized. Please contact me by email jnovitsky@pa.gov to register or if you have questions about the class.
Jake Novitsky
Fire Forester Schuylkill County
Basic Wildland Firefighter Training 1/14/25 at Ryan Township Fire Department
S-130 Basic Firefighter Training
DCNR Bureau of Forestry will be hosting a S-130 Basic Firefighter Training class in 2025, at Ryan Township Fire Department (945 Barnesville Dr, Barnesville, PA 18214) on January 14th from 1800 – 2200, January 16th from 1800 – 2200, January 18th from 0800 – 1600, January 21st from 1800 -2200, and January 23rd from 1800 – 2200. This course is designed to provide entry-level firefighters skills. A field day is required for students to receive credit for the course (S-130 Field Day, TBA). Students that successfully completed both in class and field portion of this course will receive a certificate for S-130. This course is Nationally recognized. Please contact me by email jnovitsky@pa.gov to register and if you have any questions about the class.
Jake Novitsky
Fire Forester Schuylkill County
Solar Panel Awareness for the Fire Service 1/14/25 at Friendship Fire Co
Solar Panel Awareness for the Fire Service
FSC: 0381 Hours: 4.0 (Lecture: 4.0hrs / Lab: 0.0hrs)
Prerequisites: Age 16 and up
Description: This course is intended for Emergency Responders, as well as, other private or municipal agencies. This course is an awareness level program covering system types, code compliant installations, associated hazards, and safe work practices near solar PV systems. The course will introduce students to solar PV system operations, components, design and recommended practices.
Out of County Cost: $33, please make checks payable to the Schuylkill County Volunteer Firefighters Association on the first day of class.
Instructor: Guy Arndt
Dates & Times: Tuesday 1/14/25 18:30-22:30
Location: Friendship Fire Co. #1 147 N 7th St Frackville, PA 17931
Rapid Intervention Teams (RITC) 1/16/25 at Friendship Hose Co. Orwigsburg
Rapid Intervention Teams (RITC)
FSC: 0270 Hours: 4.0 (Lecture: 4.0hrs / Lab: 0.0hrs)
Prerequisites: Age 16 and up, Fire Ground Support (ELFG), or Bucks Basic Academy
Description: This program will prepare fire department personnel for implementation of a stand-by rescue team at structure fires and certain other especially hazardous incidents. The course content relies heavily on the successful experiences of departments that have implemented and utilized the concept.
Out of County Cost: $33, please make checks payable to the Schuylkill County Volunteer Firefighters Association on the first day of class.
Instructor: Jason Witmier
Dates & Times: Thursday 1/16/25 18:00-22:00
Location: Friendship Hose Co. #1 121 N Liberty St Orwigsburg, PA 17961
Electric Vehicle Safety for Emergency Responders 2/11/25 at Friendship Fire Co
Electric Vehicle Safety for Emergency Responders
FSC: 0120 Hours: 6.0 (Lecture: 6.0hrs / Lab: 0.0hrs)
Prerequisites: Age 14 and up
Description: This program contains information on hybrid and electric vehicle safety and technology upgrades, which may pose concerns with extrication efforts. This course covers basic vehicle safety and technology changes at an emergency response level. Operating systems, construction and safety features are discussed throughout the program. Safety features such as: air bag systems, seat belt pretention systems, fuel system and charging stations, safe work zones, low, medium, and high voltage systems, vehicle construction materials, hybrid vehicles, and passenger compartment upgrades. Changes to size-up, extrication techniques, and the use of a Field Operations Guide will also be presented in this program.
Out of County Cost: $36, please make checks payable to the Schuylkill County Volunteer Firefighters Association on the first day of class.
Instructor: Guy Arndt
Dates & Times: Tuesday 2/11/25 18:30-21:30 & Tuesday 2/18/25 18:30-21:30
Location: Friendship Fire Co. #1 147 N 7th St Frackville, PA 17931
Hazmat Operations Annual Refresher 2/16/25 at Coaldale Volunteer Fire Co.
Hazardous Materials Operations Annual Refresher (HMOR)
FSC: 0737 Hours: 6.0 (Lecture: 2.0hrs / Lab: 4.0hrs)
Prerequisites: Age 16 and up, Hazardous Materials Operations
Description: This course will allow a hazardous material emergency responder at the First Responder Operations Level to receive refresher training as required annually by federal regulation.
Out of County Cost: $33, please make checks payable to the Schuylkill County Volunteer Firefighters Association on the first day of class.
Instructor: Jesse Zimmerman
Dates & Times: Sunday 2/16/25 0900-1500
Location: Coaldale Volunteer Fire Co. 121 High St. Coaldale, PA 18218
Incident Safety Officer 2/17/25 at Sheppton-Oneida Volunteer Fire Co Sheppton
Incident Safety Officer (ISO)
FSC: 0108 Hours: 16.0 (Lecture: 16.0hrs / Lab: 0.0hrs)
Prerequisites: Age 18 and up, Hazardous Materials Operations, and NIMS ICS for the Fire
Service, or NIMS ICS for Emergency Medical Service, or Equivalent
Description: This course focuses on the duties of the person who finds him/herself in the role of the responding safety officer at the scene of an incident. It is an incident-specific, scene-oriented course designed to teach what a safety officer on the scene needs to know and be able to do, using scenario to convey instructional points. Students should be experienced company officers, familiar with safety issues, the Incident Command System, hazardous materials management, and applicable NFPA standards and federal regulations.
Out of County Cost: $54, please make checks payable to the Schuylkill County Volunteer Firefighters Association on the first day of class.
Instructor: Brian Hollenbush
Dates & Times: Monday 2/17/25 18:00-22:00, Tuesday 2/18/25 18:00-22:00, & Saturday 2/22/25 08:00-16:00
Location: Sheppton-Oneida Volunteer Fire Co 900 Center St Sheppton, PA 18248
Arson Awareness 3/25/25 at Sheppton-Oneida Volunteer Fire Co Sheppton
Arson Awareness for Emergency Response Personnel (AAEP)
FSC: 0735 Hours: 4.0 (Lecture: 4.0hrs / Lab: 0.0hrs)
Prerequisites: Age 18 and up
Description: This class presents the students with a basic overview of fire chemistry and fire investigation for use in evaluating origin and cause determinations.
Out of County Cost: $33, please make checks payable to the Schuylkill County Volunteer Firefighters Association on the first day of class.
Instructor: Brian Hollenbush
Dates & Times: Tuesday 3/25/25 1800-2200
Location: Sheppton-Oneida Volunteer Fire Co 900 Center St Sheppton, PA 18248