Smoke divers are firefighters who have completed some of the most challenging, advanced SCBA training available in the fire service. They are trained to operate in typical fireground conditions — such as zero visibility, extreme heat and rapidly changing structural environments — with an emphasis on mayday survival, air management, SCBA mastery, rescue and decision-making under stress. The designation is earned through rigorous selection and training and reflects advanced competency and resilience rather than a formal rank.
Smoke diver training programs exist across the country, and while each has unique elements, they share core principles and expectations of elite performance.
Origins of smoke diver programs
The smoke diver concept has roots in programs developed in the late 1970s, notably in Georgia, where early instructors studied European firefighter survival techniques and created a structured program emphasizing mental and physical resilience, according to the Oklahoma Smoke Diver website. The Georgia program became a model for others, including Oklahoma and later programs across several states.
Today, smoke diver programs are offered in multiple states including Oklahoma, Georgia, Indiana, Florida and Alabama, with variations in delivery but a shared emphasis on realistic, high-stress firefighting environments.
What smoke diver training emphasizes
Smoke diver training goes well beyond basic firefighter training. The core areas include:
- Advanced SCBA and air management. Programs like those in Georgia and Oklahoma require advanced mastery of SCBA use, managing breathing air under stress, operating in heavy smoke and conducting self-rescue or firefighter rescue scenarios.
- High physical and mental demand. Courses involve long days in full personal protective equipment, often with morning physical training followed by intense drill field evolutions including heat, smoke and live fire training like in the Alabama Smoke Diver course.
- Situational awareness and decision-making. Candidates are continually evaluated on how well they maintain situational awareness, make sound decisions under fatigue and work effectively with teammates.
These programs emphasize the development of mental focus and resilience as much as physical skill. Many programs note that maintaining composure as the body fatigues is a critical component of success.
Smoke diver training programs
There are several smoke diver programs in the United States.
Oklahoma Smoke Diver program
The Oklahoma Smoke Diver course is a six-day, 60-hour training program for experienced firefighters, focusing on self-survival, firefighter rescue, advanced search and rescue, thermal imaging, emergency procedures, teamwork, leadership, situational awareness and decision-making within the incident command system.
Candidates first complete an Oklahoma Smoke Diver Qualification Test, which includes a Firefighter I written exam and timed physical events — pull-ups, pike pole pulls, stair ascent/descent with hose, equipment hoist, rescue drag, and a 1.5-mile run. Those with the highest combined scores are admitted to the course.
Mental readiness is heavily stressed: Candidates must be self-motivated and committed to smoke diver success rather than participating because of peer pressure or curiosity.
Georgia Smoke Diver program
The Georgia Smoke Diver Program has a documented physical training guide that outlines a progressive 16-week training plan to build the strength and endurance needed for both the qualification test and the course itself.
The Qualification Test combines a written Firefighter I exam (minimum 80% required) with physical events such as pull-ups, pike pole pulls, stair climb with hose, equipment hoist, rescue drag and a run. Scores determine acceptance into the course.
Georgia’s training philosophy likens fireground fitness and readiness to that of a professional athlete, acknowledging the unpredictability and high-intensity nature of real fire operations.
Indiana Smoke Diver program
The Indiana Smoke Diver course similarly requires applicants to be certified firefighters (Firefighter I/II) from recognized departments and physically and mentally prepared for intense training.
Indiana’s entry testing includes a written Firefighter I test with a minimum score requirement, a 1.5-mile run, pull-ups and a multi-station obstacle course performed in full PPE. Performance on these tests is ranked, and only top candidates receive full course applications.
Instructors are all certified smoke divers and emphasize that preparation must begin before arriving for training, as the course’s demands exceed typical fire service classes.
Alabama Smoke Diver course
The Alabama Fire College also offers a physically demanding smoke diver course, beginning each day with a fitness event and moving into smoke, heat and live-fire scenarios. Students are expected to have baseline knowledge of firefighter survival and rapid intervention concepts prior to attending.
Florida Smoke Diver program
The Florida Smoke Diver program held at the Florida State Fire College in Ocala is a six-day course that challenges firefighters mentally and physically. Applicants must pass a selection process that includes performance metrics, and many candidates compete for limited slots.
The program stresses confronting and overcoming “dark moments of the soul” — a metaphorical framing of the mental toughness required to succeed under extreme stress.
Tennessee Smoke Diver (FR100)
Tennessee’s FR100 Smoke Diver course through the State Fire Service and Codes Enforcement Academy is designed for experienced personnel working in protective breathing apparatus. It requires advanced competency in SCBA use and air management, strong situational awareness, and decision-making in physically and mentally stressful situations. The environment is described as strongly structured and paramilitary, with agility activities and competency tests that must be mastered to graduate.
Illinois Fire Service Institute (IFSI) Smoke Diver course
The Illinois Fire Service Institute offers a 24-hour smoke diver class focusing on SCBA proficiency and fireground tasks. Students perform drills involving donning/doffing, working with SCBA, live-fire/search/rescue scenarios, and air management basics.
How to become a smoke diver
There are several key steps to becoming a smoke diver.
Prerequisites
Most programs require:
- Firefighter I and II certification
- Departmental support or recommendation
- Excellent physical condition
- Self-motivation and mental preparedness
Formal medical clearance may also be required for some programs.
Entrance or qualification tests
Many programs include qualification tests combining cognitive and physical elements to screen candidates before admission to the main course. These typically assess Firefighter I knowledge, endurance runs, strength events and task simulations in PPE. Passing these tests earns eligibility but does not guarantee success in the training itself.
Training and graduation
Once admitted, candidates undergo multiple days of intense evolutions with minimal rest. Attrition rates are high, often because the training is designed to push candidates beyond their perceived limits and assess performance under stress. Successful candidates graduate with advanced skills in survival, search and rescue, and fireground decision-making.
Why smoke divers matter
Smoke diver programs are respected because they:
- Enhance survival and rescue capability
- Build decision-making skills under stress
- Elevate fireground leadership and resilience
- Boost technical competence in SCBA and interior operations
Graduates often become mentors and trainers, raising the overall competency of their departments.
Fire service smoke divers are exceptionally trained interior firefighters who have proven the ability to operate under the most demanding conditions. Through rigorous selection and training in multiple state programs, each with unique standards but shared emphasis on physical and mental resilience, smoke diver training represents a high-level commitment to firefighter safety and excellence.
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