Welcome to the Vermont Fire Academy Home Page
The Vermont Fire Academy is based in Pittsford, VT with a primary focus of delivering training to responders throughout the state. This website is used to distribute timely course information and is updated on a continual basis, so please check back frequently and feel free to contact us with any questions you have.
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Instructors Wanted
The Vermont Fire Academy is currently recruiting qualified individuals to fill the roles of Fire Instructor and Specialty Instructor. If you have the experience, qualifications, and ability to provide high-quality fire service training, consider joining our statewide instructional team. CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFORMATION!
Surface Water Rescue Technician with Boat Operations Course Offerings:
The Vermont Fire Academy will offer a new 16-hour Surface Water Rescue Technician with Boat Operations Course. Surface Water Technician includes providing knowledge and skills when responding to surface water, cold water and swift-water rescues. The training is designed for shore or boat based rescuers, who may be performing rescues from those areas and/or be supporting technician-level swift-water rescuers. They will also learn to perform surface water go based rescues. In addition, students will learn to paddle and operate motorized inflatable rescue boats.
The Surface Water Technician with Boat Operations level content includes the following topics and meets the job performance requirements of NFPA 1006, Chapters 17.1, 17.2, and 17.3: hazard assessment, shore-based rescue techniques, boat-based rescue techniques, rescuer safety, risk management, incident management, hypothermia & near drowning, water rescue equipment, dynamics of moving water, flooding, water search techniques, case studies, NFPA Standards, self-rescue techniques. In addition, students will learn to paddle and operate motorized inflatable rescue boats.
Students will need to bring a Personal Flotation Device (PFD) level three or above and a water rescue helmet.
The class maximum is 20 and the minimum by the application deadline is 15. Registration is made by fair department disbursement.
Please click here for the application. Applications can be emailed to: dps.vfaapplications@vermont.gov.
Fire Service Job Opportunities
Fire Service Notices:
Understand, Approach, and Respond, Effective Interventions for First Responders - Virtual training - May 14 and May 19
ASSUREd Safe FEMA Training - UVM - Summer 2025
Frontline Female Firefighter Camp - July 26 & 27, 2025
New England Association of Fire Chiefs Conference and Expo - Mohegan Sun - October 29 - 31, 2025