Training
Battalion Chief Clay Bentley is in command of the Training, Safety & Health Bureau for the 172 person department. Training is conducted each and every day throughout the department in order for our firefighters and paramedics to be as proficient as possible in their assigned duties. Every firefighter/paramedic in the department is fully trained and state certified as Firefighter I & II, Hazardous Materials Technician and in the Incident Command System. Emergency Vehicle Operations training is a top priority for the safety of the citizens on the roadways and for our personnel. Advanced specialized training in the areas of high angle rope rescue, confined space and heavy machinery extrication are conducted monthly for our technical rescue team personnel. The department is proud to say that over 90 % of our personnel are trained state licensed paramedics. This allows us to man every emergency response vehicle with paramedics 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. In 2016, the total number of training man hours was 60,181.
Yearly required training
- Paramedic Continuing Education
- Incident Command System Refresher Courses
- Emergency Vehicle Obstacle Course
- Automatic Aid Response Training
- Pre-Fire Planning of Commercial Structures
- Technical Rescue Skills (Confined Space, Rope, etc.)
- Firefighter Safety and Rescue
- Firefighting Skills and Hydraulics
- Hazardous Materials Response Refresher Course
- Job Task
- Fire Officer Training
- Communications
- Specialized Training (WMD’s, explosives, etc.)
Safety
The health and safety of our personnel are of paramount importance. Our department is guided by National Fire Protection Association ( NFPA) standards to formulate the safety policies and guidelines the department currently follows. One such policy is our physical fitness program. Firefighting is a dangerous and physically demanding profession and it is our priority that our personnel are fit for the job. The physical fitness program was completely revised in 2010 that now provides a structured fitness regimen which includes stretching and calisthenics. Our firefighters are required to pass a firefighter physical ability job task each and every year. Every operation or task our personnel are expected to perform are conducted with safety as a top priority, Safe practices and policies, proper training and use of safety equipment are all part of the culture of safety in the department, During the course of performing their duties, 19 personnel suffered on the job injuries in 2014. All injured personnel were treated, rehabilitated and subsequently returned to work.
Health
Our firefighter health program provides and promotes health, wellness and longevity for our personnel. Under the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 1500 Standards, all of our personnel must undergo a rigorous physical health examination annually. This is based upon the physical exertion and stress that firefighters endure on the job, Globally, firefighters suffer from cardiac and cancer related diseases at a much higher rate than the general population. This mandated health physical allows for the early detection of occupational related diseases for our personnel.