Plaistow Junior Firefighters

NFPA 1001 Firefighter I Training Program • Ages 14-18 • Sundays 2-6 PM

Comprehensive youth firefighter training following the NH Fire Standards & Training Commission Firefighter I curriculum. 28 modules covering NVFC core competencies, NFPA professional standards, and hands-on practical skills at Plaistow Fire Department.

View Our Curriculum About Our Program
~30
Week Program
September through May
120+
Contact Hours
4 hours every Sunday
28
FF I Modules
NHFSTC curriculum
NFPA
1001 Aligned
2019 Edition
14-18
Ages
Open enrollment

How We Train

Our weekly training cycle follows a proven three-phase learning model

1

Self-Study

Students complete assigned textbook reading from Fire Engineering's Handbook and NHFA online modules at nhfaemslearning.org on their own time before Sunday sessions.

2

Classroom Review

Sunday didactic sessions review key concepts, answer questions, and conduct knowledge checks. Certified firefighter guest instructors, including instructors from the NH Fire Academy, lead sessions — the same instructors students will train with when they pursue state certification.

3

Practical Skills

Hands-on evolutions in the apparatus bays using NHFSTC standard evolution packets. Students practice the same skills tested in the state Firefighter I certification process.

Firefighter I Curriculum

28 modules mapped 1:1 to the NHFSTC NFPA 1001 (2019) Firefighter I curriculum

Foundation & Safety

  1. Fire Service Orientation
  2. Fire History
  3. Health and Wellness
  4. First Aid
  5. Firefighter Safety
  6. Cancer Awareness

Core Equipment & Skills

  1. PPE & SCBA
  2. Communications
  3. Fire Behavior
  4. Building Construction & Utilities
  5. Portable Extinguishers
  6. Tools and Equipment

Technical Operations

  1. Ropes and Knots
  2. Forcible Entry
  3. Ladders
  4. Search and Rescue
  5. Ventilation
  6. Firefighter Survival

Suppression & Water

  1. Water Supply
  2. Fire Attack and Hose
  3. Salvage and Overhaul
  4. Firefighter Rehab
  5. Fire Suppression

Specialized Operations

  1. HazMat Awareness
  2. HazMat Ops / PPE / Product Control
  3. Forestry
  4. Traffic Incident Management
  5. Air Monitoring

Modules may span multiple sessions as needed. Schedule is built dynamically each year based on student progression and weather conditions.

View Full Curriculum Details

Standards & Alignment

Our program is built on three pillars of nationally recognized standards

NFPA 1001

Firefighter Professional Qualifications

2019 Edition. Our curriculum maps to every Job Performance Requirement (JPR) in the Firefighter I standard, the same standard used for state certification.

NVFC

National Junior Firefighter Core Competencies

Our training addresses all NVFC competency areas including leadership, teamwork, responsibility, community service, work ethic, and technical skills development.

NHFSTC

NH Fire Standards & Training Commission

We follow the NHFSTC-approved Firefighter I curriculum — the same 28-module program used statewide for ProBoard-certified firefighter certification.

Program Leadership & Instruction

Program Leadership

Chris Nesbitt — Board Chairman, Program Coordinator & Lead Instructor

  • Firefighter II, EMT
  • Fire Instructor I certified
  • Part-time at Plaistow Fire Department
  • 5-member Board of Directors providing governance and oversight
View Board Leadership

Guest Instructors & Speakers

Our guest instructors are certified firefighters who volunteer their expertise, including NH Fire Academy instructors that students will train with when they pursue state certification:

  • NH Fire Academy certified instructors
  • Career firefighters with operational experience
  • EMTs and paramedics for medical training
  • Dispatchers for communications training
  • Volunteer firefighters from the regional fire service

Our Training Portal

Custom-built online platform supporting every aspect of the program

Self-Serve Instructor & Volunteer Portal

Volunteering to teach or assist is as easy as logging in. Create an account as a State Instructor or Advisor, browse the full training schedule, see which sessions already have coverage, and sign up for the ones you want — no phone calls, no paperwork.

Whether you can commit to one session or an entire phase, the portal puts you in control of when and what you teach.

How It Works

1

Create Account

State Instructor or Advisor

2

View Schedule

Browse upcoming sessions and topics

3

See Who's On

Check which sessions need coverage

4

Pick & Sign Up

Choose sessions to teach or assist

Role-Based Dashboards

Students, parents, instructors, officers

Schedule Management

Drag-and-drop session planning

Assignment Tracking

Grading and progress

Attendance

Parents see student progress

Announcements

Discussion boards

Our Partnerships

Plaistow Fire Department

Hosts our program and provides facilities, apparatus, and equipment for all training sessions. Our students train in the same station and on the same equipment used by active firefighters.

Timberlane Regional High School

ELO (Extended Learning Opportunity) credits toward graduation. With classroom, practical, self-study, and online learning combined, students meet the 150-hour threshold for a full credit. Contact: Danielle Foley, Asst. Principal of Alternative Ed Pathways.

Lakes Region Community College

Annual field trip to LRCC's Fire Science program. Students meet the coordinator and learn about live-in opportunities. Several PJFF graduates have gone on to LRCC and are now full-time firefighters.

NH Fire Academy / FSTEMS

OMT (On My Time) certification pathway for qualifying students. Our curriculum aligns directly with the NHFSTC Firefighter I program, providing a seamless path to state certification.

Program Tracks & Pathways

A clear pipeline from training to career

Foundation Program

Current
  • ~30-week FF I curriculum
  • September through May
  • Open to all ages 14-18
  • ECSI First Aid & CPR/BLS certification
  • ELO credits for Timberlane students

OMT Certification Track

Coming Soon
  • Ages 16+ who completed Foundation
  • Repeat Foundation as mentor/leader
  • Additional weeknight skills verification
  • Working toward NH Firefighter I certification through FSTEMS "On My Time" program

EMT Track

Planned
  • Weeknight EMT certification course
  • Separate from Foundation and OMT
  • Details coming next program year

CTE Partnership

Future
  • Exploring Career & Technical Education partnership with Timberlane
  • Formal certification pathway integrated with high school

Career Pipeline

Foundation Program → OMT Certification → LRCC Fire Science → Full-Time Firefighter

Support Our Program

Help us train tomorrow's firefighters through instruction and community support

Become an Instructor

Create an account on our training portal as a State Instructor or Advisor. View the upcoming schedule, see who's already signed up, and pick the sessions you want to teach or assist with — all self-serve.

Volunteer to Teach

Support Through Donation

Help us purchase training equipment, fund field trips, and provide resources for our students. Every contribution makes a difference.

Make a Donation

Become a Sponsor

Partner with us as a corporate sponsor to support youth development and fire safety education in our community.

Sponsorship Opportunities

Looking to Start Your Own Junior Firefighter Program?

Want to follow our model and establish a junior firefighter program in your community? We're here to help!

Contact Us About Our Model

Questions about our program? Contact us today

Professional Organization

Incorporated NH Business #1007936
501(c)(3) (Pending) Nonprofit Organization
Board Governed 5-Member Leadership
Standards Compliant NHFSTC / NFPA / NVFC