| Added Funding Drives New Outreach Training Initiatives |
| by Stan Dunham |
| |
|
STILLWATER—Oklahoma volunteer, rural and small combination fire departments across Oklahoma are now more likely to receive no-cost training at their locations by qualified instructors. A new outreach training initiative by Oklahoma Fire Service Training at Oklahoma State University (OFST) is underway thanks to an additional funding appropriation by the State legislature.
According to OFST Director Ralph Brown, the added funds have been long awaited. Since coming to OFST six years ago, Brown recalls “our efforts to reach out to the rural, volunteer fire fighters have been constant.” He adds “although we have tried to position our training resources to meet their special needs, the lack of funding has severely hampered our chances for an acceptable level of success.” Meanwhile, many of the smaller fire departments—especially those with no training dollars—could not properly train their local emergency response personnel.
During the 2007 state legislative session, Brown received feedback that Oklahoma rural, volunteer and combination department fire fighters want no-cost training delivered by OFST instructors to their locale. The $821,000 additional funding will be dedicated to that objective.
The Oklahoma fire service was well aware of the challenges facing OFST and the lack of training opportunities for volunteer, rural departments. Brown is quick to point out that the $821,000 added appropriation was the result of a concerted effort among many supporting organizations. Oklahoma State University, the Oklahoma Fire Chiefs Association, Oklahoma State Fire Fighters Association, Oklahoma Rural Fire Coordinators , and the Council on Fire Fighter Training (COFT) being the most notable supporters. Brown says that key members of the Oklahoma legislature were especially helpful as well.
OFST laid the groundwork—well before July 1, 2007--for a new outreach initiative dedicated to volunteer and rural fire departments. Working with local fire departments, career technology centers, and other supporting entities, OFST approved nine Oklahoma locations that can facilitate Fire Fighter I programs that include structural live burn training. These include:
|
- Eastern Oklahoma County Technology Center, Choctaw
- Great Plains Technology Center, Lawton
- Autry Technology Center, Enid
- Kiamichi Technology Center, Poteau
- High Plains Technology Cetner, Woodward
- Tahlequah/Cherokee County Training Center, Tahlequah
- Broken Bow Fire Department, Broken Bow
- Antlers Fire Department, Antlers
- Northeast Technology Center, Afton
|
|
With this network of approved burn locations in place, and upon confirmation of the dedicated funding, OFST hired four regional fire training specialists to facilitate the outreach programming. OSU program deliveries will be apportioned among four quadrants of Oklahoma. Special program deliveries to rural and volunteer locations are already scheduled with more programming requests coming in daily.
Types of training opportunities will include the major areas identified by the Council on Fire Fighter Training (COFT). These include the Volunteer Fire Fighter Practices (VFFP)program, a select listing of Fire Fighter I modules, Structural Fire Fighter and Basic Continuing Education courses, all of which are approved for the volunteer tax incentive program (for further details see Equivalency Tables at the COFT website, www.coft-oklahoma.org).
Other new initiatives include a new Fire Fighter I Outreach Academy, conceived by Fire Programs Coordinator Gary Friedel. “The outreach academy affords rural and volunteer fire fighters the opportunity to gain accredited Fire Fighter I credentials for mostly no cost.” says Friedel. A major objective in this endeavor, he adds, is that the outreach academy lives up to its title. Classes are scheduled on evenings and weekends, and will span a longer time period. This way, participants who work full time will have the opportunity to receive nationally recognized training without leaving town.
Ralph Brown adds that further emphasis on partnering with the Oklahoma Career Technology centers needs to happen. “OFST has a mandate to provide training and educational opportunities for Oklahoma emergency responders. It works better for all concerned when we work together.”
Brown says that the bottom line message is “with adequate resources, OFST can deliver.”
One way or another, but with a new spirit of cooperation.
| For more information about OFST program deliveries in your area, call Bob Allen, Acting Program Manager, 800-304-5727. |
|
| |
