The most current edition of NFPA 1403, Standard on Live Fire Training Evolutions or its successor, shall be used as a guide when developing standard operating procedures for conducting live fire training.
  (1) Prior to being permitted to participate in live fire training evolutions for basic fire suppression certification training, the student shall have received training to meet the performance requirements for Fire Fighter I in NFPA 1001, Standard for Fire Fighter Professional Qualifications or its successor, related to the following subjects:
    (A) safety;
    (B) fire behavior;
    (C) portable extinguishers;
    (D) personal protective equipment to include SCBA;
    (E) ladders;
    (F) fire hose, appliances, and streams;
    (G) overhaul;
    (H) water supply;
    (I) ventilation;
    (J) forcible entry; and
    (K) building construction.
  (2) The on-site lead instructor will ensure that the water supply rate and duration for each live fire training evolution is adequate to control and extinguish the training fire. The lead instructor will also ensure that the resources necessary for backup lines to protect personnel and exposed property are available and deployed.
  (3) The on-site lead instructor will ensure that the buildings or props being utilized for live fire training are in a condition that would not pose an undue safety risk.
  (4) A safety officer shall be appointed for all live fire training evolutions. The safety officer shall have the authority, regardless of rank, to intervene and control any aspect of the operations when, in his or her judgment, a potential or actual danger, accident, or unsafe condition exists. The safety officer shall not be assigned other duties that interfere with safety responsibilities. The safety officer shall not be a student.
  (5) No person(s) shall play the role of a victim inside the building.
  (6) The participating student-to-instructor ratio shall not be greater than five to one.
  (7) Prior to the ignition of any fire, instructors shall ensure that all personal protective clothing and/or self-contained breathing apparatus are NFPA compliant and being worn in the proper manner.
  (8) Prior to conducting any live fire training, a pre-burn briefing session shall be conducted. All participants shall be required to conduct a walk-through of the structure in order to have a knowledge of, and familiarity with, the layout of the building and to be able to facilitate any necessary evacuation of the building.
  (9) A standard operating procedure shall be developed and utilized for live fire training evolutions. The standard operating procedure shall include, but not be limited to:
    (A) a Personal Alert Safety System (PASS). A PASS device shall be provided for each student and instructors participating in live fire training and shall meet the requirements in §435.9 of this title (relating to PASS devices). This applies whether the PASS device is provided by the academy or the trainee,
    (B) a Personnel Accountability System that complies with §435.13 of this title (relating to Personal Accountability System),
    (C) an Incident Management System,
    (D) use of personal protective clothing and self-contained breathing apparatus; or
    (E) an evacuation signal and procedure; and pre-burn, burn and post-burn procedures.

Source Note: The provisions of this §427.218 adopted to be effective April 23, 2023, 48 TexReg 1962