OSU partners with tech centers, fire departments to expand delivery of firefighter training

Friday, October 19, 2007

Funded by an additional appropriation from the Oklahoma Legislature, Oklahoma Fire Service Training at Oklahoma State University has started a new outreach training initiative to provide no-cost training to first responders at locations throughout the state.
 
Volunteer, rural, and small combination fire departments across Oklahoma now have more opportunities to receive training close to home by qualified instructors for little to no cost. The initiative includes a new “Fire Fighter I Outreach Academy.” Two academies are underway at the Cherokee County Training Center in Tahlequah and the Northeast Technology Center in Afton.
 
According to OFST director Ralph Brown, Oklahoma’s rural, volunteer and combination department fire fighters increasingly have asked for no-cost training delivered by OFST instructors at their locales. The $821,000 additional legislative appropriation has been dedicated to that objective.
 
“Our efforts to serve rural, volunteer firefighters have been constant,” Brown said. “As the Oklahoma accredited certification entity for Oklahoma firefighters, we are mandated by state statute to provide training and have a proven method of delivering training at the local level utilizing mobile training simulators.
 
“These additional funds better position us to meet the special needs of the many smaller fire departments, especially the many smaller fire departments, with little to no training budgets, that had difficulty adequately training their local emergency response personnel,” Brown said. “We greatly appreciate the support of our state leaders.”
 
OFST laid the groundwork early this year for the new outreach initiative dedicated to volunteer and rural fire departments. Working with career technology centers, local departments, and other supporting entities, OFST chose 10 Oklahoma locations to facilitate Fire Fighter I programs, including structural live-burn training.
 
The locations include Eastern Oklahoma County Technology Center, Choctaw; Great Plains Technology Center, Lawton; Autry Technology Center, Enid; Kiamichi Technology Center, Poteau; High Plains Technology Center, Woodward; Tahlequah/Cherokee County Training Center, Tahlequah; Broken Bow Fire Department; Antlers Fire Department; Northeast Technology Center, Afton; Edmond Fire Department; and the OFST Professional Skills Center, Stillwater.
 
With the network of approved burn locations in place and upon confirmation of the dedicated funding, OFST hired four regional fire training specialists to develop the outreach programming. OSU program deliveries have been apportioned among four quadrants of Oklahoma. According to Brown, special program deliveries to rural and volunteer locations are already occurring, with more programming requests coming in daily.  
 
The types of training opportunities will include the major areas identified by the Council on Fire Fighter Training (COFT). They include the Volunteer Fire Fighter Practices (VFFP) program, a select listing of Fire Fighter I modules, structural firefighter courses, and basic continuing education courses, all of which are approved for the volunteer tax incentive program.
 
The Fire Fighter I Outreach Academy was conceived by OSU Fire Programs coordinator Gary Friedel. Tahlequah area firefighters are participating in the academy at the Cherokee County Training Center, and the program at the Northeast Technology Center involves northeastern Oklahoma firefighters.
 
“The outreach academy allows rural and volunteer firefighters to gain accredited ‘Fire Fighter I’ credentials for almost no cost,” Friedel said. “A major object of the endeavor is that the outreach academy will live up to its title.
 
“Classes are being held on evenings and weekends, and, as a result, participants who work full time have the opportunity to receive nationally recognized training without leaving their communities,” Friedel said.
 
Brown lauded the Oklahoma Fire Chiefs Association, Oklahoma State Fire Fighters Association, Oklahoma Rural Fire Coordinators, the Council on Fire Fighter Training, the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education and key members of the Oklahoma Legislature for the additional appropriation.
 
He envisions the outreach initiative growing with additional partnerships between OFST and groups such as Oklahoma Career Technology.
 
“OFST has a mandate to provide training and educational opportunities for Oklahoma emergency responders,” Brown said. “It works better for all concerned when we work together.”