Probationary Firefighter Center
Your first 100 shifts should build a firefighter your crew can rely on.
This is a department-neutral roadmap for the time between academy graduation and becoming a dependable company member. Use your department SOPs, task books, and officer expectations as the final authority; use FireOpsSim to organize the work, practice consistently, and see where you still need reps.
Your probation dashboard
Where are you right now?
Enter the shift you are on. Everything else adjusts around it.
Probation readiness
Start checking off milestones as you complete them with your crew.
Use it every shift
Today's probation plan
A short plan is more likely to get completed than a giant rookie checklist.
Development roadmap
The first 100 shifts
Progress from orientation → supervised competence → reliable independent company work.
Know your rig
Apparatus familiarization challenge
You should be able to find equipment under pressure—not just during morning check.
Build your apparatus map
Use these categories to walk every compartment with a senior firefighter. Check an item only when you can locate it without guessing and explain its basic use.
Random compartment drill
Ready?
Generate a prompt, then physically point to or retrieve the item on your apparatus.
Company skills
Core probation skill matrix
“Passed in the academy” is the starting point. Company competence means doing it with your department's equipment, staffing, and expectations.
Prove it
Mentor / officer sign-offs
These are suggested competency checkpoints. Your department task book always overrides this list.
Knowledge check
Probationary firefighter quick quiz
Short application questions about habits, readiness, apparatus, communications, safety, and company operations.
What makes a good rookie
The habits nobody should have to keep reminding you about
Skill matters. Reliability, awareness, attitude, and preparation determine whether the crew trusts you.
Be ready before you are needed
Know your assignment, PPE, SCBA, radio, riding position, and apparatus before the tones drop.
Learn where everything lives
Do not stop at compartment names. Know what the tool is for, what goes with it, and what you would grab for common calls.
Listen before showing what you know
Ask good questions, accept correction without excuses, and learn how your company actually operates.
Finish the whole job
The call is not over when the fire is out. Reload, clean, document, restock, refuel, decon, and make the company ready again.
Know when to speak up
Safety concerns, lost orientation, low air, equipment problems, changing conditions, and patient deterioration are not times to stay quiet.
Own your weak areas
Ask for repetitions before a weakness becomes visible on the worst call of your probation.
Keep building
Your probation path connects to the rest of FireOpsSim.
Practice fireground decisions here, build EMS competence in EMSCodeSim, and start pump/operator fundamentals in FireOpsCalc when your department is ready for that progression.