Fire Fighting Training

Experienced, practical firefighting training for workplace teams and individuals

Ellena runs accredited, scenario-led fire fighting courses tailored for site brigades, factories and municipal teams. Training is practical-first and scalable from a 3-day basic responder course to an intensive 2-week advanced brigade leader programme.

Course Structure

Basic Fire Responder — 3 days • R1500

Designed for site staff, safety officers and small teams. Provides core skills to act safely and effectively in the first minutes of an incident.

• Duration: 3 days (classroom + practicals)
• Fee: R1500 per learner
• Delivery: Off-site at our Pretoria facility or onsite for groups
• Outcome: Accredited Basic Fire Responder certificate on successful assessment

Basic Course — Day by day breakdown

• Day 1 — Theory & PPE
  • Introduction to fire chemistry and fire triangle
  • Fire classes and extinguisher selection
  • PPE overview: helmets, gloves, boots, turnout gear
  • SCBA basics and pre-use checks (familiarisation only)
• Day 2 — Practical handling
  • Extinguisher practicals: CO₂, foam, dry powder and water
  • Hose handling fundamentals: rolling, unrolling, couplings
  • Nozzle control and basic handline deployment
  • Team drills: attack, backup and safety positioning
• Day 3 — Scenario & assessment
  • Controlled live-fire scenarios (small scale) under instructor control
  • Evacuation drills and accountability
  • Incident reporting and debrief
  • Practical assessment and certificate issuance

Advanced Fire Brigade — 2 weeks • R10,000

Intensive programme for brigade members, plant responders and supervisors. Focus on team tactics, SCBA competency, pump operations, command & control, and complex live-fire exercises.

• Duration: 2 weeks (10 working days)
• Fee: R10,000 per learner (includes consumables, advanced materials & assessment)
• Delivery: Off-site at Pretoria facility or arranged onsite with dedicated facility
• Outcome: Accredited Advanced Firefighter / Brigade Competency certificate

Advanced Course — Week 1 (Foundations & Teams)

• Advanced fire behaviour and flame dynamics
• SCBA detailed operation, cylinder management and change-over drills
• Team handline tactics, nozzle selection and flow calculations
• Hose & pump interfaces; basic pump operations and pressure awareness
• Thermal risk assessment and ventilation basics
• First aid for smoke inhalation and trauma (coordinated with First Aid modules)

Advanced Course — Week 2 (Command, Rescue & Complex Scenarios)

• Incident command fundamentals and role allocation (IC, Safety, Ops)
• Rapid intervention team (RIT) procedures and rescue drills
• Confined space fire response basics (site dependent)
• Large-scale live-fire attack simulations with coordinated teams
• Post-incident analysis, reporting and fatigue management
• Final assessment: team scenarios, individual SCBA checks and written/verbal checks

Advanced Add-ons (optional)

• Full BA competency (additional certification)
• Pump operator advanced—pressure tables & troubleshooting
• Industrial HAZMAT awareness & site-specific risk modules

Why Train & Get Certified?

• Meets legal and insurer expectations for workplace emergency response.
• Reduces risk to life and assets through organised, trained response.
• Proves competence for employment and contractor site requirements.

Why Choose Ellena Training Institute?

• Operational firefighting instructors with real brigade experience.
• Controlled live-fire ranges and strong safety governance.
• Small cohorts for high instructor-to-learner ratio and quality outcomes.
• Nationwide onsite delivery available for corporate brigades.

Training Requirements

• Minimum age 18 and basic literacy.
• Reasonable fitness; no severe respiratory conditions for live-fire or SCBA use.
• Bring ID, closed safety boots and any employer PPE.
• For advanced SCBA modules learners must not have medical contraindications; fitness declaration required.
• For re-registration bring previous certificate and ID.

Fees, Duration & Delivery

• Basic: R1500 • 3 days • Off-site or onsite
• Advanced: R10,000 • 2 weeks • Off-site or bespoke onsite
• Group discounts: Available for companies booking teams. Contact for corporate pricing.
• Certification: Accredited certificates issued on successful assessment.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Do learners get exposed to live flames?
A: Yes. Live-fire practicals are small, controlled and supervised. Full safety procedures and PPE are enforced at all times.

Q: Is SCBA training included in the basic course?
A: Basic SCBA familiarisation is included. Full SCBA competency is part of Advanced or as an add-on module.

Q: Can we book an onsite brigade course?
A: Yes. We deliver nationwide for corporate brigades. We bring instructors and set up controlled practicals where safe and permitted.

Q: Are refresher courses available?
A: Yes. We recommend annual refreshers for brigade members and SCBA users.

Q: What is the assessment criteria?
A: Practical performance in live drills, SCBA checks, team drills, written/oral checks and participation in debriefs.

Q: Are certificates recognised?
A: Certificates are accredited and accepted by employers and site assessors. We record results for compliance audits.

Q: What about insurance & site compliance?
A: Training helps meet insurer and client requirements. We can supply training records for site audits and safety files.