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The Certification & Training Division office is located at 1870 Louisiana. We
are currently staffed with one District Chief, 2 Captains, and 1 civilian administrative assistant. The primary task for the Division is to facilitate, monitor, and document the training needs for the Departments’ sworn members so that they remain in compliance with all required Federal, State, and Local guidelines. The Training Division also assists in training our members to maintain the needed proficiency in their work skills across a wide variety of emergency service disciplines. In order to better handle this wide range of required training, the Training Division has divided the work into 8 managed programs: Officer Development; Firefighting; EMS; Driver/Operator; Technical Rescue; Hazmat; Safety; Health/Wellness
Officer Development:
The Officer Development Program focuses on maintaining the ongoing training and documentation needed to keep our Officers up to speed with the most recent fire ground and workplace management practices. A strong emphasis is placed on the practice and practical application of the Incident Command System at all emergency incidents. Other areas of development such as certified training in Fire Instructor & Fire Officer courses help to maintain a well balanced officer core that are better prepared to meet the challenge of leadership within the Fire Service.
Firefighting:
General firefighter training covers a very broad base of topics within our D
epartment and matches the wide spectrum of emergency tasks that our firefighters are asked to handle daily. The training covers fire ground strategy & tactics, ventilation, water supplies, safe operating practices, personal protective gear, communications, and a long list of the associated skills necessary for our members to safely and successfully perform when called upon.
EMS:
EMS training covers several certification levels from Paramedic to ECA level courses and includes a wide range of information. This training is a combination of knowledge based learning combined with hands on benchmark practice that is designed to keep our members familiar with basic skills along with more advanced techniques as outlined in our EMS protocols.
Driver/Operator:
The Driver/Operator program is designed to serve two purposes. The first purpose is to give new members the fundamental information and skills needed to safely drive and operate the Departments’ various types of Pumpers and Aerials in both emergency and non emergency scenarios. The secondary purpose of the program is to continue to maintain a high level of proficiency in these skills for all Department members through benchmark evaluations and assigned learning materials.
Technical Rescue:
Technical rescue
training is a complex topic that covers many types of emergency skills. A partial list of these skills would include: vehicle extrication, high angle rescue, confined space rescue, and rapid intervention group training. Based on the wide variety of technical rescue possibilities and the low frequency associated with some of the technical rescue situations, the Department strives to make this training as thorough as possible so the members get the best possible learning experience from the classes.
Hazmat:
The Hazardous materials training program covers both the yearly requirements for Operations Level members as well as the more specific training required for the Technician Level personnel. The class topics cover both knowledge based and hands on skills level education to keep our members updated on the most current hazmat response techniques.
Safety:
The Safety program is designed to train and educate our members about every day work place hazards and offer simple methods for minimizing the risks associated with them. Class topics vary according to the needs and priorities of the members.
Health/Wellness:
The health and wellness program is aimed at improving the overall mental and physical wellness of our members. This is done primarily through education on the importance of proper nutrition, regular exercise, and a better understanding of the fundamental needs for a healthy mind and body.