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Florida Smoke Diver was established in 1972 with the introduction of SCBA’s to the fire service, and William E Clark studying SCBA training in Sweden and Denmark. It is currently established as a 5-day, 30-hour course in the state of Florida.
In 1978 Cortez Lawrence led a small group of dedicated Georgia firefighters to create an instructor base for the launch of the Georgia Smoke Diver Program. The original course was based on training methodology originating in the European fire service. Cortez (Smoke Diver #1) researched these techniques and combined them with training he received from the Florida Smoke Diver Course in 1977. This first Georgia Smoke Diver class, held in December 1978 at the Southern Tech/Georgia Fire Academy Campus, graduated thirteen members. GA Smoke Diver is currently established as a 6-day, 60-hour course in Dalton, GA.
In 2006, Matthew Stewart was allowed as one of the first out-of-state attendees to the GA, and was so convinced of its validity in improving performance in the fire service, he actively promoted the program upon returning home. In 2013, he and 16 GSD graduates held Class #1 of the Indiana Smoke Diver Program with the support of the Georgia Smoke Diver Program at Wayne Township in Indiana. It is currently established as a 6-day, 60-hour course in Wayne Township, IN.
In 2020, Brian Lloyd, Chad Miller, and Jason Smart launched Class #1 of Oklahoma Smoke Divers in Tulsa, OK with the support of the Georgia and Indiana Smoke Diver Programs. It is currently established as a 6-day, 60-hour course in Muskogee, OK.
Established as a non-profit in 2024, Class #1 is intended to be held with the support of Georgia, Indiana, and Oklahoma Programs in Wauwatosa, WI. The launch of a 6-day, 60-hour course that propagates the same standards of mental and physical performance as set forth by the Georgia, Indiana, and Oklahoma programs is anticipated in 2028 with dates to be forthcoming.