Overview
Southwest Fire Academy provides the unique opportunity for candidates to be trained on the minimum job performance requirements for personnel at the scene of hazardous materials incidents, to the Technician level. This course is taught by experts in the field, who have up-to-date knowledge and vast hands-on experience with hazardous materials incidents. These instructors are on the job. They take the initiative to continuously learn and train, to ensure the delivery of the best quality training to students. Using life-size and interactive props, candidates will experience training sessions and run various training scenarios, based on actual calls that our instructors have experienced. Students will learn to face the challenge of mitigating hazardous materials emergencies.
Topics include: classifying and verifying the presence of hazardous materials using various instruments, demonstrating the use of instruments to identify hazards, predicting substance behaviour, estimating potential outcomes, developing a command structure and a plan of action, utilizing appropriate PPE, performing control options, and performing decontamination.
Course Format
Blended
- Self-Directed, online theory (completed prior to arrival) – Approx. 40 hours
- In-Class, hands on practical training at Southwest Fore Academy – 40 hours (5 days)
- OFM Testing – Final Day
Required Textbook: IFSTA manual Hazardous Materials Technician, Third Edition – Not included in registration for this course.
Upcoming Courses
| COURSE | ONLINE START DATE | IN-CLASS DATES | STATUS |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-HazT-01 | March 30, 2026 | May 11-15, 2026 OFM: May 16, 2026 | OPEN |
| 2026-HazT-02 | Oct 28, 2026 | Nov 9-13, 2026 OFM: Nov 14, 2026 | OPEN |
Prerequisites
NFPA 472: Standard for Competence of Responders to Hazardous Materials Incidents
Or
NFPA 1072: Hazardous Materials Awareness and Operations
Who This Course is For
- Volunteer Firefighters looking to certify or upgrade
- Emergency responders involved in hazardous materials response
- Industrial Personnel involved in hazardous materials response
- Individuals seeking to enter the hazardous materials response field
Program Components
- Equipment familiarization / inspection and maintenance
- Plan a response to a hazardous materials incident
- Identify hazardous material container damage
- Identify hazardous materials
- Estimate size of an endangered area
- Terminate the incident
- Perform decontamination operations
- Don and doff personal protective equipment level A
- Don and doff personal protective equipment level B
- Air Monitoring and Sampling
- Plugging / Patching
- A / B / C Kits
- Incident Command
Certification
Candidates successful in this program will receive a certificate of completion from Southwest Fire Academy. You will then qualify for OFM Testing if you meet the following criteria:
- You are currently an active firefighter on a Fire Department within Ontario
- You provide an Eligibility Letter from your Fire Department
What is Included
- Use of SFA PPE and equipment
- Complete JPR package (SFA retains all original documentation)
- Certificate of qualification
What to Bring
- CSA approved footwear
- Station workwear (long pants recommended)
Additional Information
Please note: if this course is not filled to 75% capacity 7 days before it is scheduled to begin, it may be cancelled. In the event of course cancellation, you will be provided adequate notice and a full refund.
Accommodations may be available upon request for the duration of your program. If you are staying for one or two nights, the flat rate for accommodations is $50 plus taxes. If you are staying for three or more nights, the fee is $100 plus taxes, total. Regardless of how long you are on campus, your fee will not exceed $100 plus taxes. This fee grants you access to your bunk, a communal kitchen, parking, and washroom/shower facilities. Please contact SFA at 705-510-9501 or registrations@fire-academy.ca with advanced notice, to reserve your spot.