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The Fire Science Technology program is designed to prepare students for entry level occupation in structural fire service as well as provide training and skills for individuals already employed in the fire service that are interested in career advancement.

Program courses will be offered in two formats, traditional lecture and lab activities and as hybrid courses (partially face-to-face and partially online). The Fire Science curriculum is designed in accordance with the International Fire Service Training Association (IFSTA) standards.

Job opportunities may be found in small or large municipal fire departments, fire protection districts, or industrial fire departments. Students wishing to further their education with a four-year degree have the opportunity to do so through select university programs.

Why earn a fire science degree at CMU Tech?

  • This program provides intensive instruction that satisfies the certification requirement to take the State Colorado Division of Fire Prevention and Control Firefighter I exam. The Academy’s rigorous instruction includes lectures at CMU and CMU Tech by seasoned firefighters, and hands-on practice at state-of-the-art live burn facilities.
  • The Academy student will experience operations such as house burns, car fires, forcible entry, and many others. If you are looking for a career in firefighting, or if you simply want to serve as a volunteer firefighter, this is an excellent place to begin.
  • The AAS in Fire Science Technology enables area firefighters and community members an opportunity to obtain Continuing Education credits, provide firefighters a location to perform their Job Performance Requirement testing, provide a location for young perspective firefighters to receive the education and training to move forward into the fire service, and enable them to feed directly onto a local fire agency. 
  • External agencies impacting the curriculum include the Fire and Emergency Services Higher Educational (FESHE) organization which accredits fire science programs. This organization establishes standards to ensure the quality of the educational experience, and the assessment of student knowledge and skills. The design and implementation of CMU Tech'sFire Science program would align to those standards.

The Fire Science AAS degree provides intensive instruction that satisfies the certification requirement to take the State Colorado Division of Fire Prevention and Control Firefighter I exam. The Academy’s rigorous instruction includes lectures at WCCC/CMU by seasoned firefighters, and hands-on practice at state-of-the-art live burn facilities.

Academic Requirements for Associate of Applied Science in Fire Science Technology

The Fire Academy Level I Certificate is designed to prepare students for entry level employment in the Structural fire service as well as provide training and skills for individuals already employed in fire service that are interested in specialized training. This program provides instruction that satisfies the certification requirement to take the State Colorado Division of Fire Prevention and Control Firefighter I exam. The Academy instruction includes lectures at WCCC/CMU by seasoned firefighters, and hands-on practice at state-of-the-art live burn facilities.

Academic Requirements for Technical Certificate in Fire Academy Level 1

Job prospects for firefighters will be good despite the number of volunteer firefighters that qualify for career firefighter jobs. There will be positions open from those leaving the occupation.

Physically fit applicants with some postsecondary firefighter education and paramedic training should have the best job prospects. Survey data collected by CMU Tech shows that all of the fire agencies within Mesa County and its surrounding areas are in favor of, and support, a fire science degree offered at CMU Tech. 91.7% of respondents plan to expand their workforce within the next 5 years and 60.9% of respondents reported difficulty finding qualified, knowledgeable, competent firefighters who have earned a degree. Local agencies within Mesa County have all signed a letter of support for this program and for subsequent job opportunities for its graduates.

Program Faculty

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Joe White
Fire Science Program Director