“This class was a huge success with a 100% passing on the practical exams,” says Chief Hammons. “The willingness of OSU-FST to work with us and adapt to a schedule that accommodates the working volunteer—without compromising educational quality, was a major contributing factor to the program’s success.”

Running from August 23 to October 23, the 136-hour program was held on Tuesday and Thursday evenings from 6:00 to 10:00 p.m., and Saturdays, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

According to Gary Friedel, Fire Programs Manager for OSU-FST, the 136 hours of instruction are mostly performance-based, and physically demanding. Students are assigned independent reading and work assignments outside the classroom in order to maximize on-site instruction time. Friedel reports that the Academy attracted “highly motivated students that sacrificed time with their families, to achieve a high level of training. The training will be used to serve their communities in a safer, more effective way.”

Bob Adrian, executive director of Cherokee Fire Fighter Association, also voices support for the concerted training effort. “I like to see FST getting back to the basics of teaching fire fighters at the service level they are providing to their respective communities. Basic fire fighter training is very much needed in this area.” Adrian concurs that the recent outreach effort was “very successful in meeting this need.”

Partnering with the Tahlequah Fire Department, the Cherokee County Fire Fighter Association, local instructors and other local planners, OSU Fire Service Training presented the 136-hour Fire Fighter I Outreach Academy to twenty-two area fire fighters. Twenty of the attendees are volunteers from surrounding areas, including: Beggs, Checotah, Gideon, Keys, Oaks, Pryor, Spring Valley, Stillwell, Tahlequah, Welling and West Tenkiller.

Recent legislative funding appropriations for volunteer training has made it possible to deliver such training at no cost to the fire fighters, and to present programming where they live. While the added funds provide the means to go a long way in this endeavor, Friedel adds that “this new outreach initiative has inspired a new willingness to think outside the business as usual box.”

There has been added emphasis, in forming critical partnerships with small fire departments and community leaders, more willingness to share resources, and discovering creative ways to provide flexible class hours.

”The Outreach Academy is as much a concept as a program,” says Friedel, “and I believe it reflects a more customer service attitude on the part of Fire Service Training.”

Speaking of the outreach efforts, Chief Hammons concurs. “In essence, this business should not be a contest of who’s doing what for who. Let’s just do what is right for the firefighters and we can’t go wrong.”

Those interested in hosting a Fire Fighter I Outreach Academy should contact Bob Allen, OSU Fire Service Training at 800-304-5727.