Mission Statement

The mission of the Louisiana State University Fire and Emergency Training Institute is to provide training and education to fire and emergency response providers in order to protect life, property, and the environment.

Brief History

LSU Fire and Emergency Training Institute (originally LSU Firemen Training Program) was created by the Louisiana Legislative Act 84 of 1963 "to equip, operate, and maintain an in-service Firemen Training Program." Act 32, passed in 1970, gave the training program one-fourth of 1 percent of all fire insurance paid in the state, the money to be used "solely for the expenses in connection with the in-service Firemen Training Program and the necessary facilities in connection therewith." In 1979, Act 528 stated that "Louisiana State University is hereby officially designated as the agency of this state to conduct, at its Baton Rouge campus, training for in-service firemen on a statewide basis"

Throughout its 38-year history, FETI has served the people of Louisiana, the region and the nation through extensive fire service training programs that encompass instruction, research and public service. The program originally was housed on the main campus of LSU. In 1972, the program moved from the main LSU campus to its own facility extensively expanding classroom space and practical fire-training facilities.

The training center is situated on 80 acres of land south of the main LSU campus, with training grounds designed to offer a large variety of fire, rescue and emergency response training. FETI has six class-rooms, a fire extinguisher building, a burn building and several burn props. Each classroom is equipped with audiovisual training aids. FETI is located about six miles from LSU's main campus on LSU property at 6868 Nicholson Drive Baton Rouge, LA 70820. Click here for a map to FETI.

The Facility

The institute provides training to paid and volunteer fire service personnel throughout the state. Training is also provided to industrial fire and safety personnel, as well as to other emergency responders. The curriculum ranges from basic fire fighting skills to advanced technical training in rescue and hazardous materials and fire officer training. The duration of courses varies from a three-hour class to a ten week course. Last year, nearly 1,000 courses were delivered with an enrollment of over 20,000 students.