This online course is an efficient alternative to incurring additional training expenses such as traveling and classroom costs every time a lesson needs to be given.

The Office of the Fire Commissioner is the senior government agency responsible for fire safety, regulation and prevention across the province. A Local Assistant to the Fire Commissioner (LAFC) is appointed at the local government level to represent the Fire Commissioner. There are approximately 2000 Local Assistants in BC; they range from the fire chief to the mayor or other city official. 

Open School BC and the Office of the Fire Commissioner developed the online Local Assistant to the Fire Commissioner Introduction Course to ensure the duties and responsibilities of LAFCs are well defined, the Fire Services Act is understood, and consistency in training across the province. Traditionally, training was offered only in the classroom, but now new and existing Local Assistants may take the course online.

The LAFC Introduction Course is the first course to be offered online in a series of training sessions in the LAFC Training Program. It is delivered through Open School BC’s Online Hosting Service, a state-of-the-art learning management system that provides a secure environment for online learning and currently delivers training to over 25,000 students in British Columbia.

At the completion of the LAFC training, participants will be able to describe:

• the present structure of the British Columbia Fire Service
• the scope and application of the Fire Services Act
• the duties and responsibilities of LAFC
• the powers and protection of LAFC

This sample from the course illustrates how interactive multimedia is used to effectively demonstrate a concept.

The online training format allows individuals to work at their own pace, anywhere, and anytime. The course takes between 5 to 10 hours to complete, and the participants must finish within four weeks of registration. The resources required to complete the lessons are conveniently included in digital format. Each Local Assistant who successfully finishes the course and passes the online exam will be issued a certificate.

If you are taking this course you should contact and enroll through the Office of the Fire Commissioner.

The enrolment procedure is to:

1. Check the link for the course schedule: http://www.pssg.gov.bc.ca/firecom/calendar/index.htm
   
   
2. Contact by e-mail (ofc@gov.bc.ca) to register in the next available course

Topics in the module include:

• Modular design, allows the participant to start where they left off
• Interactive multimedia provide engaging examples
• The entire course is online
• Designed by the Office of the Fire Commissioner and Open School BC
• Online test

Requires a modern computer, an Internet connection, a current web browser and Flash Player installed (free to download from Adobe's website).

A minimum screen resolution of 1024 x 768 and colour quality of 16 bit is required to effectively view the course material (these settings can be modified through the “Display” settings under the “Control Panel” in Windows or through “System Preferences" on a MAC). Click here for complete system requirements.

• Fire Service Act and Regulations
• Fire Reporting Manual

Both are available through the local fire department, but are also included in the online course in digital format

Fire Protection Responsibilities in British Columbia
Introduction to the Fire Services Act
Fire Services Act
Regulations Made Pursuant to the Fire Services Act
Introduction to Fire Investigation
Conducting a Fire Investigation
Fire Reporting
Orders