GENERAL INFORMATION

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The 60th Annual North Carolina Fire Prevention School will be held March 18 - March 22, 2019 at the Courtyard Marriott, Carolina Beach.  The Fire Prevention School is presented by the NC Association of Fire Chiefs and Cape Fear Community College.  The on-site school registration will begin on Monday, March 18, 2019, at 11:00 a.m. and the school will conclude at noon Friday, March 22, 2019. 

 

Monday’s Schedule: at the Courtyard Carolina Beach, at 100 Charlotte Avenue, Carolina Beach, North Carolina, 28428.
 

   *Fire Prevention School registration begins at 11:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.,

   *Fire Prevention School opening session begins at 12:30 p.m. and continues to 4:30 pm.
 

The topic of the Opening Session will be School Risk Management instructed by Charlie Johnson.  The afternoon sessions are part of the Fire Prevention School and attendance is required.

 

All other classes will begin at 8:00 a.m. Tuesday – Friday and will be held at various locations due to damages at Fort Fisher NGTC.  Attendance in all classes and class functions is required for course credit.

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ALL STUDENTS ARE EXPECTED TO BE ON TIME FOR EACH CLASS PROMPTLY AT 8:00 AM

                                                          

The Fire Prevention School’s philosophy has always been to offer competency-based instruction, whereby, the student is exposed to a broad base of material going beyond the requirements of the fire code.  With this in mind, students should not be subjected to a duplication of the certification classes but will receive more in-depth study on related topics.

 

Five courses make up the North Carolina Fire Prevention School including Basic (General), Intermediate (General/Technical), and Advanced (Advanced/Technical) classes are required for graduation from the Fire Prevention School. The fourth year, or Graduates Class, contains new information each year to encourage students to return yearly for the latest information on challenges facing the fire inspector. All courses are being offered this year, and Basic, Intermediate, and Advance should be completed in order to graduate from the school. Students should plan to take the three courses in succession regardless of their position in their jurisdiction.   After completing the three courses, individuals will be eligible to take the Graduates Course.  The Graduates course is offered for those who have completed the three-year Fire Prevention School (Basic, Intermediate, and Advanced) or who have entered their department in a supervisory position.

 

The fifth class, in its Second Year, is the MASTER’S COURSE, designed for the supervisor or chief of a Fire Prevention Division. Prerequisites of the course will be Graduated from Fire Prevention School and have attended at least one (1) year of Graduates Course. The Masters Class will be somewhat a repeat of last year’s class so as to allow new students to attend. A minimum of 6 hours of Inspector Continuing Education will be approved for this class. This class will be limited to 25 students.

 

The 2019 NC Fire Prevention School is limited to 185 students with no exceptions.

Early registration is a must to ensure you receive a position in the school.

 

COURSE INFORMATION

 

Basic (General) - this course will offer general information on the Survival of the Fire Inspector, Building Construction, Using the Fire Code with Other Codes including Zoning, Electrical Hazards, Flammable and Combustible Tank Installation, General Precautions (Chapter 3), and others.  It is designed for the novice inspector or for the experienced inspector who seeks an update on Fire Code requirements.  Students should bring a copy of the 2018 Building Code and Fire Code with NC Amendments.

 

Intermediate (General/Technical) – this course offers the student a mixture of general and technical information.  It will provide information from the code and will address material used daily by the Fire Inspector.  Topics include Fire Protection Systems, Means of Egress and Occupancy Calculations, Fire Alarm Systems, Hazardous Materials, Tents and Inflatables and others.

 

Advanced (Advanced Technical) - this course offers the student a look at more advanced technical information. Topics include Civil Liability, Alternative Extinguishing Systems, Flammable Finishes, Existing Building Code, High Piled Combustible Storage, Grading Your Defenses and others.

 

Graduates (Advanced Technical/Managerial) - this course will offer students information/training on advanced technical and managerial subjects.  The topics in the Graduates class change each year to ensure graduate students are eligible to receive their 12 hours of upgrade credit.  Topics this year are Interfacing Fire Alarm/Sprinkler Systems with Elevator Control Functions, Fire Alarm Voice Intelligibility and Occupant Notification,  Fire Marshal 101, The Buck Stop Here, 10 Top Industry Design Issues, Fire Safety for Buildings Under Construction, LP Gas Updates new or proposed code changes so that the student receives updated and more technical code information.  The Graduates Class is offered to

graduates of the Fire Prevention School or to supervisors of inspections departments.

 

Masters (Managerial/Leadership)- this course is designed for the leader of a fire prevention division or fire chief.  Classes in this course will be leadership based but we will have at least 6 hours approved for Continuing Education Credit.  Topics for the Masters course this year are: NFPA 1730 - Community Risk Reduction; NFPA 1730 - Data Survival; Media Relations; Leadership Compass; Grant Writing; Getting to Know Your Legislator; others. This class will be limited to 25 students and shall have graduated from the Fire Prevention School and attended at least one year of Graduates Course.

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SCHOOL INFORMATION

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The current IFC Fire Prevention Code with NC amendments will be the primary text; the NC Building Code with NC amendments will be used and Vol 1-A will be referenced. The code books will not be available on the premises.  Please contact the NC Department of Insurance, Engineering Division, at telephone(919)-647-0001 for information on ordering a code book. Class participants will need to bring their code books.

 

All class presentations will be going paperless this year.  ALL students will be required to bring an electronic device to class if they wish to follow the presentations from instructors.  A USB Jump Drive will be distributed to each student at the day of registration.

 

On Thursday night, there will be a cookout for all students followed by a one-hour class on topics of current interest.  This class will allow students to further discuss code enforcement topics and issues not covered in the daytime classes. The cost of the cookout is included in the registration.If you plan to bring a guest to the cookout, an additional fee of $12.00 will requested and tickets will be available at the Opening Session.  

 

LODGING INFORMATION

 

Lodging has been arranged at a special rate for this school at the Courtyard Marriott Carolina Beach. The rates are $94.00 per night plus tax. Students are responsible for their own reservations and should note they are attending the Fire Prevention School. CLICK HERE to Book your group rate for NC Association of Fire Chiefs using the code AFCR. The Last Day to Book is Sunday, February 17, 2019. For questions about reservations, please call the hotel directly to make reservations by calling 1-800-321-2211 or 1-910-458-2030.
 

 

ONLY THE DORM ROOMS ON FORT FISHER BASE ARE AVAILABLE FOR USE BY STUDENTS THIS YEAR.  Two dorm rooms share a bath between two sleeping rooms at a rate of $25.00 each per night. Students interested in more information or to reserve a dorm room should contact base housing at 984-661-6015 ext. 16015.  Students are responsible for their own reservations and should note they are attending the Fire Prevention School. 

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Thursday Evening Cook-out & Class
 

The Cook-out and class will be held on Thursday evening at Carolina Beach FD. The class following the cook-out is part of the credited hours for continuing education credit.

 

NC Department of Insurance/Q-Board CONTINUING EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS
 

Under the NC Code Officials Qualification Board (Q-Board), Cape Fear Community College is an approved sponsor for Continuing Education credit and will offer a minimum of 12 hours of continuing education credit for Basic, Intermediate, Advanced and Graduates Courses of the Fire Prevention School. The Masters Course will only receive 6 hours of Continuing Education hours due to the managerial and leadership content.

 

Have Questions? Contact the NC Fire Prevention School Director Phillip Davis at (252) 813-9343 or by email at pdavisrmfd@gmail.com or NCAFC Executive Director Jake Whisnant at (980) 522-6129 or by email at jwhisnant@ncafc.com.

 

We look forward to having you with us this year!

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