Frequently Asked Questions

Applications typically open at the end of summer. You can sign-up for our distro list HERE to be notified in advance and/or monitor our Facebook and Instagram pages.

One class is held each year, generally in March.

We have a step-by-step process from application to graduation on the Become A Smoke Diver page.

Ideal candidates have at least 3–5 years of firefighting experience, with one year being the recommended minimum. Students should already be proficient in basic firefighter survival, search and rescue, SCBA operations, and working effectively as part of a team under fireground conditions.

The Indiana Smoke Diver Program is designed to build upon those foundational skills by placing firefighters in realistic, high-stress environments that challenge decision-making, situational awareness, and execution under pressure. Candidates who arrive with a strong skill foundation are better prepared to maximize the experience and succeed in the program.

The Program is valuable for all firefighters involved in structural firefighting.

Prospective students should be proficient in basic firefighter survival, search and rescue, SCBA operations, and working effectively as part of a team under fireground conditions. While volunteer firefighters may take longer to accumulate the recommended requisite training and fireground experience, the standard remains the same regardless of compensation.

While the course teaches individual skills, the Program is built around teamwork. Nearly every training evolution requires students to rely on one another, and that mindset is reinforced both on and off the drill yard by requiring partners to room together.

Many of the course’s greatest mental challenges happen during the off-hours, when fatigue sets in and students decide whether they are mentally prepared to return the next day. Staying together promotes accountability, safety, adequate recovery, and camaraderie.

PT is not intended to “get students into shape.” Instead, it is used to safely introduce physical and mental stress in a controlled training environment.

When firefighters become physically fatigued, mental performance can suffer. Situational awareness, communication, and decision-making rapidly decline, leading to mistakes that could be costly on the fireground. PT helps simulate the physical and mental demands firefighters experience during real emergencies. The goal of PT is to help students learn how to manage stress, demonstrate adaptability, and remain focused on the task at hand.

The Indiana Smoke Diver Association is a nonprofit organization, and no instructor receives compensation for their time or service during the Program. Every dollar of tuition goes directly back into supporting the course and enhancing the student experience.

Course fees help cover lodging, meals, facility expenses, and the large amount of consumable training materials used throughout the week (i.e. lumber, drywall, smoke fluid, straw, and other miscellaneous supplies). We work hard to keep costs as low as possible and rely heavily on sponsors, partners, and volunteers to keep the program affordable.

The drown-proofing skill is designed to teach firefighters to utilize their PPE while extricating a residential pool, flooded elevator shaft, or any other body of water that a firefighter could fall into. Students are not required to be strong swimmers to successfully complete the drown-proofing skill. 

Students will be given a short swim test to demonstrate the ability to float and remain calm in the water. The swim test includes swimming 50 yards using any technique without stopping, having their head submerged for a count of 5 seconds, and floating for approximately 25 yards without touching the sides or bottom of the pool.

Instructors work closely with each student to build confidence and ensure safety. Certified SCUBA divers and instructors are in the water throughout the evolutions to maintain the highest level of supervision and accountability.

The “Indiana” designation simply reflects the Indiana Smoke Diver Association, the organization that hosts and operates the program. This is not an Indiana-specific class - firefighters from departments across the country have successfully completed the course. 

The Program is conducted in accordance with applicable NFPA standards, and all drills are managed using a NIMS Type III incident management model to ensure consistency, safety, and professionalism throughout the week. The skills taught in the program are universal to structural firefighting and applicable to firefighters from any department or region.

The standards for passing the Indiana Smoke Diver Program remain consistent for every class and are clearly explained before each evolution. 

The Program does not raise or lower standards based on individual performance. Students who are well prepared may complete drills successfully on the first attempt, while others may be permitted additional coaching and remediation as outlined on each respective Instructor Guide Sheet.

Maintaining consistent tasks, conditions, and standards protects the integrity of the program and ensures every graduate has achieved the exact same accomplishment without exception.

Attrition rates vary from class to class depending on overall student preparedness and performance. Historically, successful completion rates have ranged from 45% to 87%.

Students who are unsuccessful leave the Program and are strongly encouraged to return for a future class. Many candidates do so successfully.

There are three primary ways a candidate may leave the Program:

DOR (Drop on Request): The most common type of exit. A student voluntarily chooses to leave the program for personal reasons. Instructors encourage candidates to continue, but the final decision remains with the student.

DOP (Drop on Performance): Issued when a candidate is unable to meet established performance standards after coaching and remediation efforts, as outlined in the Failure Criteria section of the Instructor Guide Sheet. Performance drops are reviewed by the Instructor Task Force Leader and Incident Commander before being finalized.

MEDD (Medical Drop): Issued when medical personnel determine it is unsafe for a student to continue training. This decision is made solely in the interest of student safety.

Any student leaving the Program receives a medical and orthopedic evaluation, followed by an exit interview. Documentation from the course and any applicable drop paperwork is available to the student or their Fire Chief upon request.

The Indiana Smoke Diver Program develops confident, capable firefighters who perform effectively under realistic fireground conditions. Graduates return to their departments with improved technical skills, stronger situational awareness, and a greater ability to lead during stressful incidents.

Many Smoke Divers become heavily involved in training, recruit development, special operations, and mentoring within their organizations. The Program emphasizes our core values of competence, honor, integrity, mental toughness, servant leadership, and commitment—not just task proficiency.

Our expectation is that graduates return home prepared to elevate the performance, culture, and professionalism of their departments while continuing to serve others and volunteering as an instructor with the Indiana Smoke Diver Program.