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Newly appointed members of the Fire
Department of the City of New York are directed to report
to Probationary Firefighter's School. Located at the
FDNY Fire Academy, Probationary Firefighter's School
is where new recruits get their first exposure to life
in the fire service. All instructors at the Probationary
Firefighter's School are New York State Certified fire
service instructors. The men and woman, officers and
firefighters who work in the Probationary Firefighters
School are all senior members of the Department. These
members volunteer to be detailed from their active fire
fighting units in order to pass on to the new recruits
the knowledge and experience that they have gained through
many years of fire fighting.
 Recruits,
or Probys as they are called upon entrance into the
Probationary Firefighter's School, follow a rigorous
thirteen-week course of instruction. A typical day for
the probationary firefighter begins at 6:45 am with
physical training. PT includes a five-mile run and work
related drills and calisthenics.
After completion of Physical Training
Probationary Firefighters form up on the parade grounds
in bunker gear to wait for the Drill Instructor to give
them their day's assignments. Mornings are typically
reserved for hands on instruction in fire fighting tactics
and procedures. Instructors work closely with the new
recruits to ensure a maximum of safety during training.
Training in the morning for a Probationary Firefighter
may include learning how to ascend a One Hundred-foot
aerial ladder. Following training in the correct way
to ascend an aerial ladder a Probationary Firefighter
may be required to report to the roof of Training Tower
One for single slide or rope rescue training.
Other morning activities include but
are not limited to engine tactics and procedures, correct
placement of hose line, stretching and operating hose
line as a team under simulated fire conditions. Truck
activities include forcible entry, fire service knots
and rigging, tool familiarization and use.
 During
the afternoon session classes are frequently held inside.
Here Probationary Firefighters learn the proper way
to conduct building inspections. Probationary Firefighters
are instructed in hydraulics and learn the basics of
fire suppression systems. In addition to training in
fire fighting tactics and procedures Probationary Firefighters
train in emergency medicine and graduate from the Academy
as Certified First Responders.
A complete listing of the classes,
courses and training that Probationary Firefighters
complete before graduating from Probationary Firefighters
School is beyond the scope of this introduction. Instructors
work diligently to ensure that Probationary Firefighters
pass eight weekly tests and the comprehensive midterm
and final examinations that are required for graduation.
The Probationary Firefighters that do graduate from
Probationary Firefighter's School are ready to assume
their place among New York's Bravest.
 The
foundations laid in Probationary Firefighter's School
stay with a Firefighter throughout his or her career.
The rapidly changing field of Fire Fighting and Emergency
Services require that a Firefighter continue to develop
new skills. Continuing education both on and off the
job enables a Firefighter to contend with ever more
sophisticated emergencies, such as; fires and emergencies
that are complicated by new building practices, alternative
fuels, complex security systems, etc.
Additional information about the Bureau of Training:
Programs offered at the FDNY Fire Academy
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