It's ironic that this month's roundtable concerns recruit training. Since last month's issue, I have been reassigned as deputy chief of training and EMS. This is not an assignment unfamiliar to me. I was a recruit (about 26 years ago), and I also served many years in training as an instructor and chief (battalion at that time).
Our recruits are placed on a 21-week training schedule and are assigned to the bureau on an eight-hour-a-day basis. During the course of their training, recruits are certified by the state as a firefighter (240 hours minimum), an EMT-B, and a fire safety inspector. Firefighting training is in accordance with National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 1001, Standard for Fire Fighter Profession Qualifications. We exceed some of the recommended time frames and cover additional areas beyond those in the curriculum.
During the SCBA portion of their training, recruits are put through live burns in our burn building. There are also live burns in the burn building during the "extinguishment" portion of their training. The 21-week period then culminates in live burns in acquired structures. These burns follow NFPA 1403, Standard for Live Fire Training Evolutions.
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