Marietta, GA
MAFFC 2025
Classroom Schedule
Classes will be located at Cobb Fire Training Grounds. Subject to change, please contact the MAFFC team with any questions.
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Wednesday, May 14th
8 A.M.
Leadership Under Fire (8 hours)
Date: 8am - Wednesday, May 14th
Instructor: Cody Long
Location: Cobb Training - Alpha Room
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Every success, every failure can be traced back to Leadership. Whether we are in the station, or on the fireground, leadership is what success hinges upon. It's in everything we do. The question is, HOW DO WE LEAD? Regardless of what rank or position we are in, we have a level of leadership that we need to fill, but we don't provide the training like we should so that we are successful. With Leadership Under Fire, we'll talk about core traits a leader should have, how to implement successful leadership strategies and tactics, not just not the fireground, but in the station life as well. We'll address all these areas from every rank. Finally, we will have YOU, the student, bring issues you are dealing with in your station, your department, to help create strategies and tactics to bring a more successful outcome to whatever you're dealing with. Our class instructors range from firefighter to a department Fire Chief. With all ranks represented, we can provide the insight that will help you, no matter where you are in your organization. Knowing tactics is fantastic. Able to accomplish any challenge is great. For better successes in our stations and departments, we need great, effective leadership to handle all the problems we face. To do that, we must learn and build ourselves up as leaders.
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Hook Up and Stretch: High-Rise and Mid-Rise Operations
Date: 8am - Wednesday, May 14th
Instructor: Micah Rains
Location: Cobb Training - Bravo Room
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This presentation covers the basic first due tactics and assignments that must be implemented to have a successful outcome. It will cover basic standpipe operations and explore many unique challenges to high-rise and mid-rise operations. In addition to this, there will be an overview of some high-rise case studies that have occurred in the past. Hook Up and Stretch will challenge you in preparing for structure fires when stretching from a standpipe.
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The Ins and Outs of Forcible Entry
Date: 8am - Wednesday, May 14th​
Instructor: Clay Magee
Location: Cobb Training - Charlie Room
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Forcible entry is one of the most common jobs for a truck company. Every day across America firefighters go to jobs with the first priority being to gain access. Many fire departments fail during recruit school to adequately prepare their firefighters when it comes to forcible entry. It is essential that truck company firefighters, as well as engine company firefighters in many departments, be proficient at forcible entry. Delayed forcible entry causes many problems including our two most important priorities: water on the seat of the fire and search. Forcible entry is a lacking skill in many areas of the country. Many firefighters rely on brute strength through methods such as the mule kick to get into houses, however such techniques will not always work at residential fires and will fail firefighters on the scene of a commercial fire. Firefighters need to be knowledgeable and proficient in use of their tools and doors/locks.
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This class will cover the history of the halligan and where our present day halligans have come from, comparison of different brands of halligans, mechanical advantages, striking tips and body positioning, inward and outward swinging doors, drop bars, basic thru the lock techniques and uses, saw work, the 10% Search, and door size up. While a lecture only class, this class should serve as a building block to apply information to hands on training and the fireground. This class is the basics of residential and commercial forcible entry. Firefighters that come from strong, truck company centered departments may know much of this information, however many firefighters have been inadequately prepared to meet the challenges they will face. This class is an attempt to close the gap between the training textbooks and real world fire ground knowledge.
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Search Size Up by Numbers
​Date: 8am - Wednesday, May 14th
Instructor: Kevin Cate
Location: Cobb Training - Delta Room
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Search Size up by Numbers is a systematic and fact driven approach to decision making on the fire ground.
Left Seat Tips and Tactics (4 hours)
Date: 8am - Wednesday, May 14th​
Instructor: Nick Peppard
Location: Cobb Training - Echo Room
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There is no doubt that the Driver/Engineer is one of the most critical jobs in any fire company. This class is a fast-paced look at effective, time-tested techniques, tricks of the trade and tips for Engineers. We will review tactical considerations on a variety of incidents uniquely from the perspective of the Engineer. The wide variety of incidents a fire company responds to requires the Engineer to be on their game at all times.
This class will impart several, real-world quick tips and will provide valuable training in areas such as booster back-up, positive and static water supply, relay, tandem and dual pumping operations, as well as diagnosing and correcting common (and some not-so-common) problems that Engineers may encounter on scene. Left Seat Tips and Tactics is geared towards current, newly promoted, and step-up engineers, as well as those firefighters seeking to promote and company officers looking to provide quality company level training to their crew. It is also aimed at Training Officers looking to improve their current driver/engineer development programs in their organizations.
The Influence of Building Construction, Occupancy Risks and Fire Dynamics on Fireground Decision-making on Today’s Evolving Fireground (4 hours)
Date: 8am - Wednesday, May 14th
Instructor: Christopher Naum
Location: Cobb Training - Auditorium
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Today more than ever, understanding and comprehending the complexities of the built-environment and construction and the effects of fire dynamics on fire suppression operations is a must. With an evolving dynamic fireground, simple to complex buildings and varied occupancies they present increasing challenges that are redefined strategic and tactical fireground management and impact operations on escalating and varied levels. Building construction, occupancy risks and the predictability of building performance under fire conditions have a profound influence on the management of operations, identification of tactical protocols and deployment of resources. Understanding key inherent building performance characteristics, insights from emerging fire research and their relationships and variables in command decision-making methodologies and practices, fundamental to firefighting and incident management on today’s evolving and demanding fireground. A broad look at trends, risk and emerging construction issues challenging today’s emerging and practicing company officers and commanders on a demanding and unforgiving fireground.
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Maximizing Our Impact: Connection on Purpose
Date: 8am - Wednesday, May 14th
Instructor: Jeremy Sanders
Location: Cobb Training - Command Lab
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“Making the world a better place.” What was once a statement that pushed countless people to do amazing things has in more recent years become a distant pipe dream and a statement that few seem to even hope for anymore. However, it doesn’t have to be that way; it isn’t the statement that is misguided, it is our perspectives and our attitudes that are causing it to seem unachievable. By reframing what seems to be a pipe dream, we will quickly see that we make the world a better place by making an impact on the lives of those around us and that is exactly what we are going to discuss.
10 A.M.
Detailed Leadership, Aggressive Tactics
Date: 10am - Wednesday, May 14th
Instructor: Micah Rains
Location: Cobb Training - Bravo Room
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Intentional leadership is the foundation for success within an organization, on the fire ground, or when building relationships. From the bay floor to the battalion car, leadership will rise or fall based on investment in the little details. This class takes an in-depth look at what it means to be detailed with your people, and your profession. It will look at how good leadership can translate into aggressive tactics on the fire ground. Qualities of a good leader, how to deal with your people, and supporting the mission of the fire service are topics that will be discussed. To win on the fire ground we must be able to lead in the firehouse.
Ground Ladders: Moving Beyond Minimum Standards
Date: 10am - Wednesday, May 14th
Instructor: Clay Magee
Location: Cobb Training - Charlie Room
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Are you looking to grow your ground ladder game and knowledge? Ground ladders are more than shiny ornaments on the side of your rig. All firefighters need to be proficient in what is a basic skill. This class will help elevate your ground ladder game beyond academy minimum standards.
We’ll review the basics of ground ladders, construction and standards before moving on to basic use for work and victim rescue. Once the base has been established the class will move onto nonconventional use of ladders such as splicing, scaling, alternative heeling and other unconventional uses. This class will help all firefighters review ground ladders and introduce them to new tips and tricks learned from the real world. This class is not just for the truckies but also for the engine folks who may show up first due to that victim waiting on rescue.
Speed, Surprise & Violence of Action
Date: 10am - Wednesday, May 14th
Instructor: Bradley Feely
Location: Cobb Training - Delta Room
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This class explores the relation between the Fire Service and the Military, and explains how the application of the United States Marine Corps warfighting principles of Speed, Surprise & Violence of Action are not only beneficial to operations on the fireground, but crucial to the mission of the fire service.
Basic tenants of combat Operations, Marine Corps mission principles, and how the fire service can and should mirror those success patterns are discussed.
Combat experience from 3 tours to Afghanistan tie these principles to my fire service career.
The class culminates in my personal "why", and how we should all aim to push the fire service forward in our Departments, regions and beyond.
Through the Darkness: Arming Firefighters for Today’s Biggest Battles
Date: 10am - Wednesday, May 14th
Instructor: Jeremy Sanders
Location: Cobb Training - Command Lab
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“Through the Darkness” gives students a proactive framework and tools that are needed to not only help them to increase their self-awareness to see problems before they plant roots, but it will also help them to discover hidden issues that could turn into something bigger. We can enhance the performance of everyone from the most seasoned and salty veterans to our kids playing youth sports by using the framework of Our Perspective, Our Connections, Action Taken, and Our Ability to Persevere. Through this framework, the students will begin to see that no matter what diversity the outside world may bring, it is no match for the power of our minds once we are in control. This session will teach students the invaluable tools to find the strength and resilience to stay in the fight.
1 P.M.
The UL Studies: What You’ve Missed Since Transitional Attack
Date: 1pm - Wednesday, May 14th
Instructor: Clay Magee
Location: Cobb Training - Charlie Room
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Most of the fire service is familiar with transitional attack. Love it or hate it, this class will take a victim first mindset, deep dive into the Governor’s Island study examining transitional attack. From there we will move on to cover the studies not so well known. Air entrainment, water mapping, interior attack, basement fires, coordinated fire attack and the residential search. We’ll use all this information to help make the best decisions for THEM.
Mid-Rise Operations with Limited Staffing (4 hours)
Date: 1pm - Wednesday, May 14th
Instructor: Zach Bruhn
Location: Cobb Training - Delta Room
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This 4-hour class prepares firefighters to arrive first on scene at a Mid or Wide-Rise structure fires. This course is designed for members of departments that operate with a small number of personnel and limited apparatus typing as well as members of larger departments. Modern Mid-Rise structures such as NFPA220 Type IIIA four and five story hotels and apartments present a dangerous and dynamic fire ground. It is not uncommon to find these types of structures popping up along highways and interstates in rural and urban environments across our nation and if fire protection districts and municipalities with very limited available resources. Fires in these types of structures come with a high life safety risk and present unique building construction concerns. Lessons learned encompass topics ranging from building construction, protection system types, size-up, series pumping and multiple FDC and water supply options. The course examines a multitude of interior and exterior tactics, to include prioritizing strategies such as fire attack, search & evacuation, stairwell search groups and integration of ICS all for success in these high-risk low-occurrence fires. Class prepares students to handle the array of possible standpipe and FDC pumping scenarios that are common among medium rise building fires. The course includes a short in-classroom hands-on-training display which demonstrates multiple hose-load options such as the Denver, New York and Coil methods and how these hose-loads operate with both hallway and stairwell deployments. Additional training includes standpipe connection and by-pass options, fire pump and FDC operations which are common in these distinctive structures. This course will outline the strategic goals and tactical objectives to be taken along with the need for solid decision making with a limited amount of staffing to ensure that firefighters will respond, quickly, safely and meet the needs of the citizens they serve. The course can be extended to include a hands-on-training portion in the afternoon allowing students to train on multiple hose folds and deployment options.
The Tactical Engine (Reloaded) (4 hours)
Date: 1pm - Wednesday, May 14th
Instructor: Nick Peppard
Location: Cobb Training - Echo Room
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The Tactical Engine is a down and dirty look at the blue-collar fundamentals of aggressive Engine work. This class will examine effective tactics for first-alarm assignment Engine companies. It will explore efficiently performing essential fireground tasks and will delve into tactical priorities. The class will address Truck work for Engines that don’t have the luxury of properly staffed truck companies arriving in a timely manner. Oftentimes in the non-urban environment, Engine Companies are required to be able to “do it all” and shift gears quickly on the fireground. The fast-paced, HOT class is scenario driven with participants getting practical training in size up, initial strategic and tactical prioritization and decision making, weapon selection, handline management, water supply options, search options, VES, basic forcible entry, ground ladders and outside vent duties. This class is geared toward those looking to maximize the performance of their Engine Company.
The class is built around functioning with two 3-FF Engine Companies arriving on scene in staggered times and having to make tactical decisions based on conditions, staffing and limited staffing. Each scenario will be run with 6 students operating at a time. They will have to size up the situation, address fire attack, search, forcible entry and ventilation with limited personnel available. The class seeks to show the students best practices and options for hitting the fundamental tasks that must be accomplished on most every fire scene.
Reading the Building: Building FACTS and the New Size-up on Today’s Fireground (4 hours)
Date: 1pm - Wednesday, May 14th
Instructor: Christopher Naum
Location: Cobb Training - Auditorium
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Today’s buildings and occupancies continue to present unique challenges to command and operating companies during combat structural fire engagement. Building and occupancy profiling, identifying occupancy risk versus occupancy type, construction methods, features, systems and components require new skill sets in reading the building and implementing predictive occupancy profiling for today’s firefighters, company and command officers for effective and efficient fireground operations. Incorporating the Buildingsonfire FACTS model for First-Arriving Construction, Tactics and Safety, this program provides an overview of the methodology and process to increase operational effectiveness and ensure critical building factors are identified, assessment and monitored throughout the incident with insights on an enhanced size-up model, building and fire risk model and operational template that meets today’s fireground challenges in various building types and occupancies. Updated for 2025.
Fundamentals of Today’s Search
Date: 1pm - Wednesday, May 14th
Instructor: Tyler Evans
Location: Cobb Training - Command Lab
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With the copious amounts of fire ground research and development related to civilian fire deaths and rescues there isn’t any excuse for poor performance. This course will dive into the basics of everything search, build on those basics we already know, and cover the statistics in real world application to prepare your mind for your Super Bowl when one of your citizens is in need. ​​
3 P.M.
Why Before the How: A Modern-Day Approach for Instructing Fire Service Students
Date: 3pm - Wednesday, May 14th
Instructor: Wayne Jones
Location: Cobb Training - Bravo Room
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Instructor Development
First Year Officer: Trials and Tribulations
Date: 3pm - Wednesday, May 14th
Instructor: Roy Albright
Location: Cobb Training - Charlie Room
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Many of us have big plans when we get the nod that we have received our first set of bugles. Many times we are unprepared for the human side of leadership. We spend countless hours studying and practicing the tactical side of leadership. I will examine my first year of being a Company Officer and explore what my trails and tribulations were. Students will be tasked with with examining what leadership is and how they can be more prepared for their first year of being a Company Officer
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Today’s Fireground
Date: 3pm - Wednesday, May 14th
Instructor: Tyler Evans
Location: Cobb Training - Command Lab
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This course highlights the challenges that building construction and fire behavior associated with such challenge us on the modern fireground. Join us as we discuss these topics and improve our understanding of today’s structure fires.
Thursday, May 15th
8 A.M.
Maximize Your Extrication
Date: 8am - Thursday, May 15th
Instructor: Chris Kessinger
Location: Cobb Training - Alpha Room
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This course is designed to maximize the capabilities with the limited staffing operations we are facing across the country. With tool selection, tactics and placement we teach the rescuer to be able to accomplish rapid extrication of any victim they will face. The training and scenarios are based on twenty years of rescue experience and real world application. Students from all levels of experience will be able to take the knowledge learned back to their departments and help save lives.
Utilizing Modern Fire Research to Maximize Fire Attack & Occupant Survivability (8 hours)
Date: 8am - Thursday, May 15th
Instructor: Zach Bruhn
Location: Cobb Training - Bravo Room
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This 7-hour lecture provides a summary of the recent three-part UL/NIST Study: Impact of Fire Attack Utilizing Interior & Exterior Streams on Firefighter Safety & Occupant Survivability. Topics such as considerations for search, victim survivability data and interior fire attack methodologies and exterior water application will be discussed from the latest three-part Underwriters Laboratories Firefighter Safety Research Institute study. The UL paired with the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) to conducted research on occupant survivability, firefighting tactics, both interior and exterior in residential structures along with hose stream effectiveness as it relates to air entrainment and water mapping. 46% of annual home fire fatalities occur purely from smoke inhalation alone, not burns. This lecture will present a comprehensive systematic summary of the victim survivability data and suggested interior fire attack methods.
Imperfect Pitch: Roof Realities and Construction Conundrums (4 hours)
Date: 8am - Thursday, May 15th
Instructor: William Knight
Location: Cobb Training - Charlie Room
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Whether you're on an engine, truck, or battalion car; whether you're assigned fire attack, search, or ventilation; whether you're riding the tailboard or the command board: Imperfect Pitch is the building construction class you've always wanted. This is an interactive lecture on construction and how it affects firefighting operations. We'll get into the good, the bad, and the ugly of what keeps the rain out, dispelling myths and misinformation along the way. While there is a heavy emphasis on topside work in this class, we will talk about how everyone on scene relies and acts upon an understanding of what's overhead. Attendees will take home new approaches to discovering and dealing with the odd and unexpected, based upon real-world examples. In addition to regular fireground disagnostics, students will learn a few guerilla tactics for discovering more about the buildings in their area.
Rescue Operations for the Engine Company (4 hours)
Date: 8am - Thursday, May 15th
Instructor: Nick Peppard
Location: Cobb Training - Delta Room
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Many fire departments across the nation lack dedicated rescue or truck companies. Even in the departments that are fortunate enough to have these specialized resources, there is often a delay in their arrival to the scene. This necessitates the initial incident action plan and tactics being implemented to be performed by engine company personnel in many cases. Thus, it is imperative that engine companies train for the myriad scenarios that they will potentially face in their tour of duty. This class examines real world rescue incidents uniquely from the perspective of the engine company. We will review tool compliments that are common to the engine as well as outside the box uses for these tools and equipment. Finally, we will review management and leadership principles for both routine and complex incidents. This is an interactive class drawing on shared experiences from attendees as well as experiences faced over the instructor’s nearly 2 decades of running calls in rural, suburban and urban systems.
Street Smart Extrication
Date: 8am - Thursday, May 15th
Instructor: Tim O’Connor
Location: Cobb Training - Echo Room
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Vehicle extrication is a puzzle. But it's not a normal puzzle; its a puzzle with constantly changing rules. Manufacturers strive to make the best vehicle on the market so they can make the most sales. They design their vehicles to perform safely when involved in an accident. What they don't care about is the Fire Service and its ability to extricate someone from one of their vehicles. Extrication challenges facing today's crews have grown exponentially with new vehicle components and construction practices. This class will help dismantle those practices and show real-world ways to beat them, sometimes by using them to your advantage. Learn maneuvers that can be used to extricate trapped civilians in a tested, timely way.
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10 A.M.
Efficient Equals Effective
Date: 10am - Thursday, May 15th
Instructor: Dylan Briggs
Location: Cobb Training - Alpha Room
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This class will encompass strategies to build into a firefighter's personnel and crew training methodology in order to become more efficient in all aspects of the job. The practice of efficiency without the end goal of effectiveness can often lead down the road of laziness and complacency. However, if we have the end goal of being effective firefighters and fire crews for THEM, then we can achieve the desired outcome.
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Successful Short-Staffed Engine
Date: 10am - Thursday, May 15th
Instructor: Tim O'Connor
Location: Cobb Training - Echo Room
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Short Staffing is becoming the norm across America. Instead of giving up, Fire Departments have created ways to overcome. This course focuses on the Engine and how they have overcome the handcuffs of short staffing. It discusses the responsibilities of the Operator, Officer and Nozzleman individually and as a team to keep and increase effectiveness on the fireground. Topics include mindset, positioning, riding and apparatus assignments, hose line selection and operation, fire attack principles, crew integrity and other force multipliers.
1 P.M.
From The Outside, In: A New Fire Chief’s Challenges
Date: 1pm - Thursday, May 15th
Instructor: Chuck Barnwell
Location: Cobb Training - Alpha Room
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This lecture will highlight the challenges faced by a newly appointed Fire Chief. We will briefly discuss the dynamics of being hired from outside the organization and identify ways to navigate common obstacles found. This presentation would be beneficial for any personnel who aspire to work their way up the ranks to possibly one day becoming the Fire Chief.
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Your Probie’s First Day: Beginning the Journey of Professional Development
Date: 1pm - Thursday, May 15th
Instructor: Dennis Reilly
Location: Cobb Training - Charlie Room
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The significance of a member’s first day in the firehouse is often marginalized. Many new firefighters are taught the importance of a mop & broom and making coffee without a detailed discussion about mission accomplishment and their role in this critical task. This program lays out a blueprint to successfully incorporate a probationary firefighter into a high functioning fire company
Engineering Excellence (4 hours)
Date: 1pm - Thursday, May 15th
Instructor: Nick Peppard
Location: Cobb Training - Delta Room
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The professional Driver/Engineer must understand and leverage the ENTIRE water delivery system from start to finish. They must not only understand the “What”, but also the “How” and the “Why” of their equipment, tactics and their position. Driver/Engineers must truly be masters of water delivery and application.They are expected to be intimately familiar with the weapons at their disposal and wield them in a way so as to maximize their impact on the fire scene. The reality is great driver/engineers are not made by accident. They are systematically built through knowledge, training and experience. This class takes an extensive look at water delivery and application. It delves into the equipment, strategic goals, and tactical deployment models that are essential to success at the pump panel. It examines extensive technical knowledge, hydraulics, pump design, hose and nozzle construction, and how our strategies, tactics, equipment impact our effectiveness on the fireground. If you’re a student of all things ENGINE, this is the class for you
First Due with a Clue (4 hours)
Date: 1pm - Thursday, May 15th
Instructor: Tim O'Connor
Location: Cobb Training - Echo Room
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Everyone wants to be First Due to every fire they are dispatched to. But what happens when you are successful at beating everyone there? Do you know what needs to be done? Can you accomplish it all? Nothing is worse than arriving first, only to be beat to the seat by the 2nd due because you were unsure of what needed to be done or how to do it. This course will discuss the necessary tasks of the Engine and the Truck when arriving first due. First Due Engine and Truck operations simply put will make or break the fireground. If operations are efficient and executed well, success is easy. If operations are executed poorly, failure will ensue. The public places their blind trust in us each and every day that we will respond quickly and solve their problem, whatever it may be. This class will build upon the belief that everyone must know every job. The Truck relies on the Engine and the Engine needs the Truck. This class will take that belief and hone it to focus on the basics of Engine work and Truck work. It will mold those basics into a fluent coordination of movements that happen on the fireground. These movements collectively allow us to rescue human life and preserve property, which after all is our primary mission. Engine topics include positioning for success, riding and tool assignments, hose line selection and deployment for the greatest benefit among others. Truck topics will cover positioning around other apparatus, riding and tool assignments, the 2-team concept and how to consolidate positions when short staffed; we will also cover ladders, forcible entry, ventilation and search procedures.
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Advanced Suicide Awareness: Strategic Connections and Tactical Interventions (4 hours)
Date: 1pm - Thursday, May 15th
Instructor: Nancy Wesselink
Location: Cobb Training - Auditorium
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Description coming soon
3 P.M.
Tactical Reasoning: Making Good Decisions in Bad Situations
Date: 3pm - Thursday, May 15th
Instructor: Dennis Reilly
Location: Cobb Training - Charlie Room
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The emergency scene is an unforgiving environment in which critical decisions must be made. Most people are not naturally inclined to make good decisions in the high threat environment. Ther fire service does a good job teaching people how to complete tasks but does little to teach people how to make good decisions. This class draws on the principles of scientific research and practical steps a fire department can take to position their members for success. The material is ideally suited for all members and all ranks.