2 9 t h A n n u a l F i r e D e p a r t m e n t I n f o r m a t i o n C o n f e r e n c e
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2026 REGISTRATION OPEN
CLASSROOM WORKShOP
CLASSROOM WORKShOP
"12 Tips for the RIT Officer"
"12 Tips for the RIT Officer"
Jeff Clayton
Jeff Clayton
Saturday Afternoon13:00 - 14:30
Saturday Afternoon15:00 - 16:30
Synopsis
This presentation is designed to create discussion regarding RIT programs from the initial guidelines to the post-incident critique. I will share tips and lessons learned through my last 15 years as a RIT instructor and RIT officer. Throughout the interactive presentation, questions will be asked of the audience to create engagement and spur discussion.
We will start by discussing what a fireground mayday really is—a high-risk, low-frequency event. We then overview the need for effective and safe guidelines and policies regarding RIT training, dispatch, and operations.
Initial training versus ongoing training and their differences will be discussed, along with the importance of building solid skills before moving onto more rigorous training. Realistic training tips and the creation of "training scars" are covered.
We will discuss the mental rigors of RIT training and how to avoid placing students in training situations they are not mentally ready for. For those that are ready, we will discuss when and how to effectively coach a student during stressful training events with positive reinforcement and encouragement.
Fireground actions and tips for operating within an incident action plan as an assigned RIT are discussed, along with the basics of crew management and assignments. Tips for reading a building and predicting an event are incorporated into the presentation, along with tips for safely and effectively responding to a fireground mayday.
Finally, we will discuss the importance of an after-action review of the mayday event. Additionally, we will briefly overview the mental toll these events can have on firefighters.
Bio
Jeff Clayton is a born and raised East-Coaster, Jeff has been involved in the fire service since 1993 when he started as a cadet firefighter in Hantsport, Nova Scotia. He is a third generation Firefighter and prides himself in being a student of the job.
Jeff has had the privilege of teaching fire-ground operations internationally and throughout Canada. He holds numerous certificates from the Ontario Fire College and a certificate in Fire Service Leadership from Dalhousie University.
Jeff currently holds the rank of Captain and is assigned to a Rescue Company in a Southern Ontario fire department. He is also the Deputy Fire Chief in the town he resides in.
He is a National Association of Fire Investigators Certified Fire and Explosion Investigator who has been investigating the origin and cause of fires since 2016. He is a member of multiple Canadian and international fire investigation associations and has attended continuing education conferences in Canada and America and is the lead fire investigator for his paid-per-call fire department and is an Ontario Fire College adjunct instructor for the NFPA 1033 fire investigations class.
Determining Origin and cause of fires in order to ensure appropriate and targeted public safety messaging is a priority for Jeff.
Jeff has had the privilege of instructing in the fire service since 2009 and enjoys passing on the lessons he’s learned and teaching the basics of the job to engaged firefighters.
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