HANDS-ON TRAINING (HOT)
1st and 10 Engine
Location: Orange County Fire Rescue Training Center
This class will cover the 1st engine arriving at a fire scene and cover the tasks that need to be accomplished within the 1st 10 minutes on scene. It will cover every riding position on the engine and provide tips and tricks for anyone taking this course. The course will cover everything from the arrival report to the hose deployment, from advancing hose to nozzle techniques. This is a must have course for anyone assigned to an engine. The morning session will have rotations through the different objectives. The afternoon session will be scenario based into live fire putting it all together.
Students need to provide their own full structural bunker gear, mask, and SCBA. If you have a problem securing a SCBA, we can possibly assist with this.
Lead Instructor: Steven Negedly, Orlando Fire Department
Fire Service Career: Been in the fire service since 1993, serving for Volusia County Fire Services, the city of Edgewater and finally Orlando Fire Dept. since 2003. Currently a Lieutenant assigned to Engine 16 in the Lake Nona District of the city. Education: Associates in General Studies and Fire Science, Bachelor’s Degree in Fire and Emergency Services from the University of Florida. Fire Service Instructor: Has been an instructor since 2004. Program Manager for Valencia College for the Driver Operator program which includes Pump Ops and Aerial Ops. Also, the Program Manager for the Driver Operator program at Seminole State College of Florida. Also teaches minimum standards for Seminole State College. Other: Director of the Orlando Fire Conference since 2016.
RIT and Outside Truck Ops
Location: Orange County Fire Rescue Training Facility
This interactive training is a must-attend that confronts a critical truth in today’s fireground operations: when a mayday is declared, the teams that save firefighters aren’t just standing by—they’re performing. Backed by compelling data, NIOSH case studies, national statistics, and field-proven research, this class reveals that the most successful RIT operations share one thing in common—a high-level mastery of truck company skills.
Lead Instructor: Robert Ramirez, The Mayday Mindset
Rob Ramirez is a 23-year veteran of the fire service and the proud father of two awesome boys, Gaven and Nash. Rob holds degrees in both Fire Science and Public Administration. Since 2006, Rob has served as a Rescue Team Manager for the Department of Homeland Security F.E.M.A. U.S.A.R. Task Force 2 out of Miami, FL where he has been on dozens of high-profile national and international U.S.A.R. deployments. Throughout his Fire Service career, he has held the ranks of Firefighter, Paramedic, Lieutenant, Dept. Training Officer, and Captain. Rob is currently assigned to the Operations Division of a busy urban Truck company in sunny South Florida.
8hr Emergency Airway Management Course, based on the FL F.A.I.R Airway Study
Location: Orange County Convention Center
Hosted by Florida Health
Emergency Airway Management- full day hands on skills lab. FREE.
FL Dept. of Health Grant. Based on the FL F.Å.I.R. Airway study needs.
This program has been presented at conferences and facilities around the country and is designed for those familiar with the basic concept of airway and ventilation management. Through the use of video, photos, case reviews and hands-on skills labs, participants will review the anatomy of the airway and physiology of adequate ventilation followed by hands-on practice using various devices and techniques. Finally, a review of pharmacology, surgical procedures, unique equipment and video laryngoscopy will leave participants with many “tricks of the trade.” This program will provide 8 hours of EMS license renewal credits through CE Broker.
Lead Instructor: Shaun Fix, Boca Raton Fire Rescue (Ret.)/Emergency Medical Consultatnts
Shaun Fix PMD, NRP is the President of Emergency Medical Consultants in South Florida. He has been practicing and teaching in the hospital and pre hospital field since 1983. He holds a degree in Emergency Medical Service Management and has held faculty positions at several colleges. After 35 years of service, Shaun retired as a shift officer in charge of EMS for Boca Raton Fire Rescue Services in Palm Beach County, Florida. Shaun has presented programs at State, National and International Conferences and has appeared on FETN, Pulse, 24-7 EMS, Medic Monthly, and Emergency Medical Update Videos. A frequent lecturer, author and consultant, Shaun is best known for keeping his programs upbeat and relevant while bringing “the reality of emergency medicine” to the classroom setting. Shaun is the author of the Brady text, Success in ACLS and recently completed writing the book Safety and Survival in Emergency Medicine.
Urban Rigging & Rescue
Location: Orange County Fire Rescue Training Facility
This course is intended for participants who are Rope Operations trained or above. Attendees will engage in multiple demonstrations and hands-on skill stations utilizing the latest equipment and technology. Key objectives include mastering anchoring techniques, artificial high directionals in urban environments, and various rope offsets for horizontal movement. All necessary gear and personal protective equipment will be provided.
Lead Instructor: Ryan Allen, Elevated Safety
Ryan Allen is a 20-year fire service veteran and Firefighter with Orange County Fire Rescue (FL). A SPRAT Level 3 Rope Access Supervisor, he’s a leader in Special Operations, serving on the department’s Theme Park Rescue Team, Dive Team, Squad, and Truck Program. Ryan teaches USAR at the local fire college, serves on Florida Task Force 4, and co-founded the Central Florida Rope Rescue Challenge. His deep expertise in rope rescue and rope access has made him a trusted instructor and speaker across the country and internationally.
Can Confidence
Location: Valencia Fire College Institute
This class is designed to build confidence on one of the most often neglected tools found on nearly every fire apparatus: the 2 ½ gallon water extinguisher. The “Can” can be an extremely effective lifesaving tool by allowing a well-trained firefighter to quickly apply water between fire and victims. Attendees will learn proper filling and pressurization steps, how to build homemade carrying straps and other useful “Can” modifications. The class will also cover valuable skills on carrying and searching with the “Can,” and confining fire with it. Students will cycle through a “force an interior door off its hinges’ ‘ prop and use this door to hold back live fire and smoke. Finally, attendees will perform live fire attacks with nothing more than a “Can” and witness the effect of the “Can” on pre-flashover conditions.
Lead Instructor: Jimmy Berry, Orange County Fire Rescue Department
Jimmy Berry is a Lieutenant and Paramedic with Orange County Fire Rescue, where he has served since 2001. He is currently assigned to Truck 30, one of the busiest truck companies in the county, protecting the Pine Hills and Orlo Vista neighborhoods. In addition to his company assignment, Jimmy is a member of the department’s SCUBA dive team and serves as a lead on the high-angle rescue team, which responds to rope-related emergencies at significant heights and within the many theme parks throughout Central Florida. Beyond his work in Orange County, Jimmy is a lead instructor with Vent Enter Search LLC. He regularly teaches at fire conferences and expos across the United States, including FDIC, the Orlando Fire Conference and many others, sharing his experience and passion for advancing the craft of truck company operations.
High-Rise Standpipes Operations
Location: Orange County Fire Rescue Training Facility
Old buildings, old, physically impaired residents with pre-existing medical conditions, poorly inspected and maintained standpipe systems and inadequate water supplies combine with lack of sprinklers to make mid and high rise condominium buildings permitted in the State Of Florida the potential for multiple-fatality fires. Raymond Dorvial will examine these and other factors that make these buildings so dangerous for residents and firefighters in this state and requirements for partial sprinkler protection and other improvements as parts of engineered life-safety systems. The class will examine measures that fire departments in Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach Counties are taking to improve tactics and enhance inter-operability in their high rise building fire responses.
This eight hour training will examine the problems associated with fires in commercial and residential high rise buildings and the strategies and tactics to mitigate them. Topics to be covered include: The differences between residential & commercial high rise construction; Becoming familiar with all aspects of building systems; Analysis of case studies; Up to date tactics for high rise fires, and ICS for high rise fires. The class ends with a full scale evolution.
Grip It-N-Rip It: Nozzlemanship for the Elite Operator
Location: Orange County Fire Rescue Training Facility
This class is a deep dive into the nozzle position. We teach the science behind water application for maximum efficiency. In this class the student will learn nozzle positions, body mechanics, water mapping, flow and move techniques, stream angles, flowing and moving up stairs, and backout flowing procedures. By the end of the class the student will have a better understanding of the WHY behind everything we do as a nozzle operator.
Lead Instructor: Randy Dozier, Panama City Beach Fire Rescue
Modern Live Fire Training and Fuel Packages
Location: Valencia Fire College Institute
Burn smarter. Train harder. Train with purpose. Prepare for the real thing.
Are you ready to take your live fire training to the next level?
Modern Live Fire Training and Fuel Packages is a dynamic 8-hour course designed for instructors who want to sharpen their ability to deliver immersive, NFPA-compliant live fire training that replicates today’s fireground with precision and control. Through a blend of interactive classroom learning and practical training ground application, this course dives deep into how modern fuel package selection, fire control team coordination, and scenario design can dramatically improve your training effectiveness—without compromising safety.
Why Attend?
With evolving building construction, synthetic fuel loads, and rising safety expectations, today’s fire service instructors must go beyond “burn and learn.” This course equips you with the strategies, standards, and skills to create repeatable, safe, and high-fidelity live fire environments that meet your training objectives—and prepare your crews for real-world fireground conditions.
This course will strengthen your credibility and capability as a live fire training instructor and leader.
Train smarter. Burn safer. Deliver excellence.
Join a cadre of professionals committed to mastering the art and science of modern live fire instruction.
Lead Instructor: William A Rhodes, City of Orlando Fire Department
Aaron Rhodes is a 29-year veteran of the fire service and currently serves as an Assistant Chief with the Orlando Fire Department. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Fire Service Administration and began his instructional career in 2002 and currently teaches with the Fire Department Training Network, Eastern Florida State College Fire Academy, and Valencia College School of Public Safety. He serves as a board member and hands-on training coordinator for the Orlando Fire Conference and is an active member of Florida Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) Task Force 4. Aaron is the Chair of the Florida Fire Chiefs Association Training and Education Section. He also represents the fire service on the Regional Domestic Security Task Force and serves as Chair of the statewide Planning, Prevention, and Response Focus Group.
Resuscitation Florida by Florida Department of Health
Location: Orange County Convention Center
Hosted by Florida Health
The EMS report cards for V.F. witnessed cardiac arrest survival are in, and the results for most communities in the United States are dismal. Many large U.S. cities average less than 10%. Yet, there is hope. Seattle and King County, Washington, report over 60% survival, among the highest in the world. Why is this? What can your community do to improve?
This one (1) day training is designed to help EMS managers, medical directors, and frontline personnel improve cardiac arrest survival in their communities. Join the leaders for a course that will transform how you think about how EMS manages cardiac arrests.
Thermal Imaging: The Operational Environment – Segment One (***LIVE FIRE***)
Location: Orange County Fire Rescue Training Facility
The primary objective of “The Intricacies” (Segment One) is to provide comprehensive education and training for fire service members in the realm of thermal imaging technology. This course aims to equip participants with indispensable knowledge and abilities for maximizing the advantages offered to gain a strategic edge over the hostilities during hazardous operations.
The instructional plan, which includes a classroom presentation, hands-on demonstrations, and H.O.T. evolutions, has been carefully crafted to afford participants a heightened understanding of technical operations and functionality to competently operate as well as properly implement the diverse technologies used throughout the fire service.
Lecture discussions will investigate the rich history of thermal imaging technology in the fire service, tracing its evolution to unveil the fundamental elements and characteristics inherent to its design and construction. Additionally, our exploration will extend to fire ground operations, aiming to understand the significance of image interpretation. This includes defining the purpose and suitability of various technologies and evaluating the methodologies essential for maximizing the advantages for profitable tactics and strategies.
The demonstration involving a small-scale burn prop provides a visual representation that reinforces the knowledge acquired during the initial portion of the lecture, facilitating a deeper understanding of essential principles related to image interpretation, potential misinterpretations, analysis, and measurement of capabilities across various thermal imaging devices used in the fire service.
To foster and refine skills the remainder of the course will encompass practical evolutions focusing on three distinct training sections:
“Enclosure Fire Dynamics” (***LIVE FIRE***)
The highlight of the course features live fire, which is conducted within a modified Dräger Phase 1 Fire Behavior Lab. Led by a sub-contracted manufacture lead simulator operations specialist participants will witness a controlled, realistic encounter of enclosure fire dynamics enabling participants to gain a first-hand realization of the operational environment as seen through various thermal imaging devices.
“Reconstructing the Size-Up”
This exercise focuses on interpretation of topics related to the application of the thermal imager for lucrative exterior and interior size-up methodologies with a concentration on V.E.S. Operations. Participants will gain conception of procedures for seamless integration of the device to leverage its capabilities for optimizing strategic planning and facilitating tactical decision-making to prioritize the safety and well-being of victims and crew members during hostile firefighting situations.
“Evolving the Fundamentals” (***HOT/COLD SMOKE***)
Participants will be divided into pairs, working together as a crew, to immerse themselves in zero-visibility scenarios carefully designed to develop and enhance the techniques required for the effective utilization of equipment, procedures, and teamwork during challenging situations. This hands-on experience will emphasize Crew Resource Management, aiming to instill knowledge, skills, and attitudes such as communication, situational awareness, problem-solving, decision-making, and teamwork that are essential for successful tactical operations with the thermal imager.
***Registered FCDICE Course ID# ATPC18046***
Lead Instructor: Christopher Corso, Fire Dynamics Training Programs
Chris Corso, the Owner/Operator of FDT Programs, began his fire service career in 2003, and is currently assigned to Hillsborough County Fire Rescue, FL, Station 19 serving as the Driver Engineer with recurrent duty assignments as Acting Company Officer. His commitment to professional development led him to achieve his Florida Fire Service Instructor certification in 2014, and shortly thereafter obtained the certification for Live Fire Training Instructor. His passion for nurturing the growth of fellow firefighters initially emerged within his own department and over the years has extended to possibilities surpassing any imagined aspirations.
December of 2016, Chris received a significant opportunity that marked a pinnacle in his career as a fire service instructor, ultimately leading to the creation of FDT Programs. Selected as a Sub-Contracted Simulator Operations Instructor for Dräger Fire Training Systems U.S., his responsibilities included instructing training cadre members on simulator familiarization and management of Single and Multi-Story Vent-Controlled Firefighting Simulators as well as Fire Behavior Labs, (formerly known as “Flashover Simulators”). Upon receiving the designation of Dräger Safety Lead Instructor he began facilitating courses for fire service agencies throughout Southeastern United States occasionally extending outside his region to departments across the U.S. and internationally.
The above-mentioned prospect ultimately led to the creation of FDT Programs where Chris’s extensive knowledge and experience with Vent-Controlled Fire Training Systems concentrated strengths for several crucial areas of fire service education and training. Appointment to an advisory board as a subject matter expert by the Florida Bureau of Fire Standards and Training gave the opportunity to transpose acquired knowledge for shaping the future of live fire instructor training & standards within the state. Later the acquisition of Level 1 Thermographer presented the opportunity to develop courses dedicated towards the education and training of Florida fire service members on fire service thermal imagers which led to FDT Programs becoming an approved training provider. Recent endeavors have turned towards offering inclusive education for training division personnel on the design & construction of non-manufacture vent-controlled fire training systems and simulator operations qualification courses for various systems.
Since the development of the thermal imaging courses, the FDT Programs Cadre has had the honor of presenting at notable H.O.T. sessions and conferences such as Orlando Fire Conference, Broward County Fire Chief’s Association, Bearers of the Oath Conference, and Pennsylvania’s Butler County Fire Chief’s Association – Fire School Weekend.
Big Fire – Big Water
Location: Orange County Fire Rescue Training Facility
This class is a hands-on advanced 1 or 2-day class for all ranks (not just engineers) that have lost the art of training in moving large volumes of water on the fireground. The class is taught using a student-team approach and scenario-based training through multiple evolutions
