Everything You Need to Know

PumpForge is web-based fire pump operator training software built for career and volunteer fire departments. It provides realistic pump panel simulations aligned with NFPA 1002/1010, with automatic scoring, detailed After Action Reports, and verifiable certifications.

Operators practice on virtual pump panels that behave like real apparatus — gauges respond realistically, the physics model real hydraulic behavior, and every evolution is scored automatically. Instructors assign scenarios, monitor live sessions and review results, and PumpForge awards certifications automatically when an operator passes. Department administrators manage users, track compliance, and export audit-ready documentation.

Everything runs in a web browser. No hardware to buy, no software to install, no IT department needed.

There are two plans, priced per trainee seat: Essentials at $25 a month (built-in scenarios, panels, assignments and automatic scoring) and Complete at $50 a month (everything on this page). The answers below say where a feature needs Complete. See pricing for the full comparison.

PumpForge is designed for career and volunteer fire departments of any size — from single-station volunteer companies to multi-station career departments and statewide training programs.

Training officers use it to build structured pump ops programs with documented evaluations. Instructors assign evolutions, monitor progress in real time, and review detailed After Action Reports. Operators practice PDP calculations and pump panel operations on realistic virtual panels that match their actual apparatus.

Department administrators get a complete view of training activity, certification status, and compliance documentation across every station.

No. PumpForge is designed to complement your existing training program, not replace it. It adds a structured practice layer between classroom instruction and live apparatus drills.

Operators use PumpForge to build confidence and muscle memory with PDP calculations and panel operations before they ever touch a live rig. This means when they do get on the apparatus, they already understand the gauges, the sequence of operations, and the math — so live drill time is spent refining skills rather than learning basics.

Think of it the same way a flight simulator complements actual flight training. The simulator doesn't replace the airplane, but pilots who practice on simulators perform better when they fly.

All scenarios are grounded in NFPA 1002 Chapter 5 job performance requirements for fire apparatus driver/operators. The 12 built-in evolutions follow the NFPA 1002/1010 pump-operations job performance requirements.

Simulator runs are practice for the NFPA 1002 pump operator skills. On the Complete plan, an NFPA 1002 checklist lists the standard's eight pumper skills, and a skill is signed off only when an instructor or department admin watches it done on a real pumper. PumpForge certificates are PumpForge training records, not state or NFPA certifications, and each has a number that anyone can check online.

Start a free 30-day trial from the sign-up page: you create your department and its administrator account, then invite instructors and operators by email. Questions first? Use the contact page.

Individual firefighters cannot self-register — access is managed by your department administrator. This ensures that only authorized personnel from your department have access to your training data, scores, and certifications.

Once invited, operators receive an email with a link to set their own password and can start running evolutions immediately.

Any computer or tablet with a modern web browser — Chrome, Firefox, Edge, or Safari. PumpForge works on desktops, laptops, and tablets. No software installation is required.

We recommend a screen size of at least 10 inches for the best simulation experience. The pump panel has multiple gauges, controls, and readouts that need to be visible and interactive. Tablets work well for practice, but a laptop or desktop provides the most realistic training experience.

Mobile phones are not supported for simulation — the screen is too small to operate the pump panel effectively. The public pages (features, blog, help) are fully responsive on all devices.

No. PumpForge is entirely cloud-based. Open your browser, go to pump-forge.com, log in, and start training. There is no software to download, no plugins to install, no hardware to buy, and no IT department needed.

Updates happen automatically on our end — every time you load the site, you're running the latest version. Your department's data is stored securely in the cloud and accessible from any authorized device.

Under 5 minutes. A department administrator creates the account, enters the department name and contact information, and invites instructors. Instructors can then assign evolutions to operators immediately.

There's no configuration required — the 16 built-in scenarios (12 NFA evolutions and 4 NFPA 1002 JPR scenarios) and 24 apparatus panel layouts are ready to use out of the box. Operators can be running their first simulation the same day the account is created.

Operators interact with a virtual pump panel that models real hydraulic behavior. The simulation runs on the server and updates gauges in real time as operators adjust throttle, open valves, and manage water supply.

Each scenario presents a specific fireground situation — a water supply type, hose layout, nozzle configuration, and target pressures. The operator's job is to calculate the correct Pump Discharge Pressure (PDP), set up the panel accordingly, and maintain stable operations throughout the evolution.

Every action is recorded: when valves were opened, how the throttle was adjusted, whether safety limits were exceeded. At the end, PumpForge scores the attempt automatically and, on the Complete plan, generates a detailed After Action Report that the instructor can review.

PumpForge includes 16 built-in scenarios: 12 evolutions following the NFA pump operations curriculum and 4 NFPA 1002 JPR scenarios. A department can also add the 7 NFPA 1410 engine-company evolutions with one click. These cover the full range of pump operations: single-line supply from a hydrant, multi-line operations, relay pumping, drafting from a static source, foam operations, master stream deployment, standpipe operations, and more.

Each evolution is progressively more complex, building on skills from earlier scenarios. Instructors can assign them in any order or use the built-in training plans to create a structured progression.

On the Complete plan, instructors can also build their own custom scenarios using the Scenario Builder — choosing water supply type, hose layouts, nozzle configurations, and grading criteria that match their department's SOPs.

PumpForge includes 24 built-in panel packs modeled on the pump panels fire departments run every day.

Configurations include top-mount, side-mount, compact, rural tanker, rescue and aerial layouts. The goal is for operators to train on a panel that looks and feels like the apparatus they actually ride — so muscle memory transfers directly to the fireground.

On the Complete plan, instructors can also build custom panel layouts using the Panel Editor, arranging gauges and controls to match any apparatus in their fleet.

PumpForge is independent and not affiliated with any apparatus or pump manufacturer.

Yes. Every simulation is scored automatically on PDP accuracy, safety performance, and operational procedure. There is no manual grading required — the system evaluates the attempt the moment it's submitted.

On the Complete plan, After Action Reports are generated immediately with gauge timelines showing exactly what happened during the evolution, an event log of every control change, and a detailed score breakdown showing where points were gained or lost. Instructors can review these reports, add notes, and use them for targeted coaching.

Scores and reports stay in your department's training records and can be exported as PDFs for training files, compliance audits, or certification documentation.

31 built-in courses. 23 of them make up the pump operator path, in nine units that open in order (a department can open them in any order or turn off courses it does not use): apparatus and driving, pump operations fundamentals, fire hydraulics, water supply (tank to hydrant transfer, rural water and relay pumping), foam, standpipe and aerial supply, safety and emergency procedures, communication and leadership, one course for each of the 7 NFPA 1410 evolutions, and NFPA compliance for training officers.

Two more go beyond the pumper: Wildland Engine Operations and Aerial Apparatus Operations. The other six are annual safety refreshers that open in any order: SCBA and respiratory protection, bloodborne pathogens, hazardous materials, cancer and contamination reduction, rehab, and Mayday and rapid intervention. Each comes round again 12 months after a member finishes it, and its quizzes include “what do you do?” questions set on a call or at the station.

Every course has lessons and quizzes that need 70% to pass. The courses are the eLearning add-on, available with the Complete plan only. The Study Guide, a quick reference of formulas, tables and procedures, comes with both plans.

Yes, on the Complete plan. PumpForge awards certificates automatically when an operator passes the graded runs: NFPA 1002 Basic Pump Operations for NFA Evolutions 1 to 5 and Advanced Pump Operations for all 12, each backed by documented training records. A certificate is a PumpForge training record, not a state or NFPA certification. Each certificate includes the operator's name, department, date, expiration date, and a unique verification code.

Certificates can be printed as PDFs and include a public verification page where anyone — mutual aid partners, ISO reviewers, state fire commissions — can confirm the certification is authentic by entering the certificate number. No phone calls or paperwork required.

The platform tracks expiration dates automatically and alerts instructors and administrators when certifications are approaching expiry, so recertification can be scheduled proactively.

Every simulation attempt is time-stamped and scored automatically with no manual intervention. On the Complete plan, the system also generates After Action Reports with gauge timelines, event logs, and score breakdowns that document exactly what happened during each evolution.

Certifications include verification codes and a public verification portal. Compliance reports can be exported as CSV or PDF, formatted for state fire commissions, ISO audits, and NFPA reviews. Records are kept, and a change such as an instructor's score override needs a reason and is recorded in the audit log.

The documentation is designed to answer the question every auditor asks: "Can you prove this operator was trained, evaluated, and certified?" With PumpForge, the answer is always yes.

Yes, on the Complete plan. A department admin makes a read-only API key on the API Keys page, and your records system uses it to pull your people, graded runs and certificates, so nobody types them in twice.

Add each person’s employee or badge number on Add User or Edit User. It travels with their records, so the training lands on the right person in your system.

If you use Vector Solutions (TargetSolutions) or another training system that takes SCORM courses, you can also download any evolution as a SCORM 1.2 course file and add it there. Your members start it in your training system and run it in PumpForge, and the score, pass or fail and time are filed back on their own.

Visit our Login Help page for step-by-step troubleshooting. The most common issues are:

Expired invitation link — the first invitation link expires after 72 hours, and a resent one after 7 days. Ask your department administrator to resend the invitation.

Forgotten password — click "Forgot your password?" on the login page. You'll receive a reset link by email within a few minutes. Check your spam folder if you don't see it.

Account locked — after several failed login attempts, accounts are temporarily locked for security. Wait 30 minutes and try again, or contact your department administrator for immediate access.

If none of these resolve the issue, contact your department administrator — they can reset your password or resend your invitation from the user management panel.

Use the contact page to reach our team directly. You can also submit a support ticket from your dashboard once logged in — open Support in the sidebar (Support Center on a trainee's menu).

We reply within 72 hours. For urgent issues affecting active training sessions, submit a ticket with High priority.

Yes, once your department has a signed agreement with PumpForge. Ask for a quote on the contact page. With the agreement signed, your Billing page offers Pay by invoice beside Pay by card. Your subscription starts that day, and Stripe emails an invoice due in 30 days, with your PO number on it if you use one. Your finance office pays it online from the link in the invoice.

A department that subscribes on its own from the Billing page pays by card.