Pennsylvania State Fire Academy

10/19/2026

A flammable liquid tank fire is being extinguished with water patterns and dry chemical extinguishers as part of the Airport Crash Fire Rescue Class.

10/19/2026

The Airport Crash Fire Rescue program concluded over the weekend with more aircraft
Familiarization, engine fires, and liquid fuel fires. Interested? Check out the calendar when it’s released for next year for all the resident programs!

10/18/2026

Eastern Fire Equipment Services put some work into the saws that we put some work in with. Thanks for repairing everything we broke, Eastern!

These saws were just in our shop for service and are back in service at the Pennsylvania State Fire Academy.

Servicing Cutters Edge saws, Husqvarna, Jonsered, and now Truckman’s Choice is where we got our start and still a big part of what we do.

10/18/2026

Most people never understand the power of water patterns, extinguishers, and foam unless they’ve dealt with flammable liquid fires like the problem fuels or airport crash fire rescue programs. Today was day 1 of the airport crash fire and rescue short course with pit fires and fuel fires.

The fires aren’t inside of a building, but you’ll never see more fire than at these two programs!

09/26/2026

🔥 30 Hours. 31 Firefighters. 10 Live-Fire Scenarios. 🔥

This week, 31 personnel (21 from Truck Academy 2 and 10 from Truck Academy 3) pushed their limits through three intense 10-hour days of advanced commercial structure fire training at the Pennsylvania State Fire Academy in Lewistown, PA. Students arrived early and went home late, wet, and tired for all three days.

Crews sharpened critical truck company operations, including:

* 🚪 Forcible Entry: Cutting and forcing reinforced doors, security fences, and commercial overhead doors
* 🏠 Roof Ventilation: Vertical ventilation operations on commercial-style roofs
* 🔍 Search & Rescue: Rescuing victims and isolating fire while awaiting engine support
Crews capped off the academy with 10 realistic live-fire scenarios to put all the pieces together under true heat and smoke conditions.

📍 Did you know? Truck Academy 2 & 3 are resident training programs held annually at the PSFA—and they are 100% FREE for all Pennsylvania firefighters!

Level up your skills and view upcoming classes on their portal: 🔗 PSFA.acadisonline.com

09/10/2026

****NOTICE****

All Live Fire Training in Acquired Structures within the Commonwealth will be placed on hold effective November 1, 2026, through April 1, 2027. During this period, a Live Fire in Acquired Structures Train‑the‑Trainer (TtT) program will be conducted at several Educational Training Agencies (ETAs) across the Commonwealth. Dates, times, and locations will be announced, and all entrance requirements and course details will be posted in ACADIS under the Live Fire Training in Acquired Structures program once finalized.

All instructors who meet the entrance requirements for the TtT must successfully complete the program in order to continue conducting Live Fire Training in Acquired Structures after the suspension period. A new Live Fire Policy will also be released during this timeframe.

Please monitor ACADIS for updates and contact your respective Field Supervisor for additional information and guidance.

08/02/2026

Last week, the first pilot program of the revamped 3-day firefighter mayday and survival program was conducted at the State Fire Academy. All skills were individual based focused helping yourself out of a bad situation. Skills included calling a mayday, bailout kits, first floor window exits, upper floor hang and drop, upper floor hang and ladder scoop, negotiating wire entanglements, wall breaches, hose orientation, reduced profile and SCBA removal for egress, and mastery of SCBA familiarization without visibility. Over the course of three days, students performed five different maze style courses negotiating a combination of all these skills.

07/19/2026

Classes are wrapping up and 350 Pennsylvania Firefighters are heading back into PA from the U.S. Fire Administration in Emmitsburg, MD after a weekend of learning, networking, and socializing.

**SAVE THE DATE**
Next year, 2027 PA weekend at the NFA will be July 23, 24, 25 with some classes already scheduled and more to come! Our goal is to max out the NFA with more than 400 PA firefighters attending. Mark your calendars and tell a friend to come along!

07/19/2026

Last evening concluded with the after-hours training - socializing with fire and emergency service personnel from across Pennsylvania discussing related and common topics that share commonality for all organizations. Awards were handed out for the best dressed Hawaiian outfit and ci**rs were lit while the issues surrounding the Pennsylvania fire service were solved, at least for this one night in good company.

07/19/2026

Last night during PA Weekend, a memorial service was held for the firefighters killed or recognized as LODDs during the last year. A rose was placed in the fire boot with the memorial wreath and the bell tolled each time. At the conclusion, the wreath was taken out and placed in front of the memorial eternal flame.

Memorialized for 2026 was:
Captain Ronald Shaffer
Edward Margavich
Michael A. Booke
Todd Koch
Robert R Shick Jr.
Jeffrey L. Buck
George “Bud” Turner