• When scheduling drills to be held at ESTA, you must submit the training area(s) you will require and the type of expendables you would like to use. For specific information regarding types of expendables and quantities which have been approved for use at ESTA, please contact the office during business hours. 
  
  
• All drills must be requested through the use of the Training Drill Application. No verbal requests will be accepted.
  
  
• The current fee for drills includes the use of only one training area, 2 safety officers, and expendables, for a 3-hour period on nights and a 4-hour period during days. Additional areas with expendables for one or consecutive drill sessions (such as a weekend morning and afternoon), are available at additional cost. 
  
  
• One drill application must be filled out completely and submitted for each drill requested. Application must be received at least two weeks before date of drill or an additional fee will be charged.
  
  
• An outline of the drill must be attached. This outline shall include the following:
  • Name of the drill
  • The objective
  • The estimated length of time
  • What you expect to be accomplished
  • What equipment will be used
  • The name and contact information of the person in charge 

NOTE: Any department who does not submit an outline at least two weeks prior to their drill will be required to use an ESTA lesson plan chosen by the Academy staff and will be subject to an additional fee for an extra instructor to conduct the drill.

• If your department does not have an outline, you may contact ESTA and we will send you possible training evolutions which may be used for drill programs.
  
  
• A drill request may be denied if it conflicts with an ESTA class or pre-scheduled drill. Drills may be postponed due to possible unsafe conditions resulting from weather. Such conditions include freezing water in winter or ladder use during thunderstorms. 
  
  
• CANCELLATION POLICY: If you need to cancel for any reason, you must do so in writing at least one (1) week prior to the starting date of the drill. 
  
  
• LIVE FIRE TRAINING: Any drills that involve live fire training shall be following and in compliance with NFPA Std. 1403, Live Fire Training Evolutions in Structures, 2018 edition.
  
  
• PREREQUISITES: When a drill is held at, or in conjunction with, the ESTA, the sponsoring organization shall be responsible for ensuring that each participant is adequately trained to perform the tasks assigned to him or her during that specific training session.
  
  
• DRILL SESSION HOURS:
  • Weekday hours are divided into three sessions:
    • 8:00 AM to 12:00 PM 
    • 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM
    • 7:00 PM to 10:00 PM
      
      
  • Weekend hours are from:
    • 8:00 AM to 12:00 PM
    • 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM
      
      
•  LIVE BURN FEES: 
  • Phase V (Modified) Burn Building
    • 1/2 Day Session (4-Hour)
      • Maximum of 3 Burns
      • $950.00 - base price
        
        
    • Night Session (3-Hour Session)
      • Maximum of 2 Burns
      • $800.00 - base price
        
        
  • Natural Gas Burn Building
    • 1/2 Day Session (4-Hour)
      • Maximum of 3 Burns
      • $950.00 - base price
        
        
    • Night Session (3-Hour Session) 
      • Maximum of 2 Burns
      • $800.00 - base price
        
        
  •  Phase I Flashover Simulator 
    • Day or Night Session (3-Hour)
      • Maximum of 2 Burns
        • $800.00 - base price
        • Additional burns for $250/ea/1hr
          
          
  • Phase III Backdraft Simulator
    •  Day or Night Session (3-Hour)
      • 1 Burn
        • $450
          
          
• EXPENDABLES & FREQUENCY:
  •  Live burn drills include 2 burns  over a three hour period or 3 burns for a four hour period.
  • Flammable gas drills include 5 burns over a three hour period or 10 burns for a eight hour period. 
  • The frequencies of scenarios for Hazmat and rescue drills are at the discretion of the fire department, or company.
  • Additional live burns have to be reviewed prior to the training session and will be approved or denied on a case by case basis by the academy supervisor and will incur an additional fee.

• RIGHT OF REFUSAL: The ESTA reserves the right to refuse any drill application, if, in the opinion of the staff, a drill proposal would:
  •  Pose possible harm to personnel directly or indirectly involved in the drill. 
  • Cause damage to any fire department or ESTA property. 
  • Go against nationally accepted safe practices for firefighting and fire training. 
    
    
• FIRE TRAINING EQUIPMENT: The fire department will provide all their own fire equipment for the drill. If a specific piece of equipment from the academy is needed, a request for it should be submitted with the drill application form.
  
  
• USE OF LIVE VICTIMS: Any training drills performed at the training academy shall not use any personnel as victims for any evolutions. The term "personnel" shall include any member of the fire department or anyone connected directly or indirectly with that organization, or any training academy personnel.  Only inanimate objects will be used as victims. This will include fire training dummies, hose dummies, mannequins, etc.
  

PROCEDURES FOR FIRE DEPARTMENT DRILL SESSIONS:

• The chief, training officer, or representative from the fire department shall report to the ESTA Lead  Instructor upon arrival at the academy grounds. No department, or member of a department, shall enter the training grounds area unless accompanied by an ESTA staff member. Absolutely no private vehicles are permitted within the training area during a drill session. 
  
  
•  The officer in charge shall provide a roster of personnel involved in the training evolution and certify that they meet the prerequisites. He or she shall also certify that they have emergency medical support and the name(s) of those individual(s). 
  
  
•  Prior to any evolution, a pre-evolution briefing session will be conducted. This will include:
  1. An overview of the ESTA rules and regulations
  2. Description of the crew assignments
  3. Familiarization with the training area
     
     
• All fuels used for live fire training will be set up under the direct supervision of a ESTA fire instructor. 
  
  
•  Three fire instructors shall be the evolution safety officers for live burn or any other type of evolution. 
  
  
• There shall be a 5:1 ratio of firefighters to fire instructors for any live burn evolutions.
  
  
• The fire department shall provide certified emergency medical personnel for their training evolutions. These individuals shall be EMT certified. The EMT shall not participate in evolutions unless replaced by another EMT. If an EMT is not available, the ESTA can provide one at $125.00 for a three (3) hour session or $300.00 for a eight (8) hour session. 
  
  
•  Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus (SCBA) shall be worn by firefighters and instructor(s) under the following conditions:
  1.  Oxygen deficient or contaminated atmospheres
  2. Elevated temperature environments
  3. Below ground-level locations
  4. Any IDLH environment
     
     
•  Any fire department training officer running the training evolution shall meet requirements of Fire Service Instructor Level II, as per N.J.A.C. 5:18C. If the department does not have access to a certified instructor, the ESTA can provide one for a fee of $125.00 for a three (3) hour session or $300.00 for a eight (8) hour session. 
  
  
• Any fire(s) ignited shall be under the direct supervision of the ESTA instructor/safety officer. 
  
  
• Only ESTA staff shall be permitted to operate the controls for fuel or ignition of fuels at any live burn evolutions and any controls pertaining to the water supply system.
  
  
• All emergency vehicle operators shall be certified by their department to operate their equipment. 
  
  
• All drills include safety officers and expendables to complete the evolutions. If a fire department/brigade requires the use of an apparatus, the Fire Academy can provide one for your use at $125.00 for a three-(3) hour session or $300.00 for a eight (8) hour session. 
  
  
• All drills require an outline to be submitted to the Somerset County Emergency Services Training Academy (ESTA) at least two weeks prior to the drill date. If suggestions for an outline of scenarios are needed, contact the ESTA for a selection of possible evolutions.

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