DECEMBER 2023 Alabama Fire College December 2023 Closed (Christmas & New Year’s Day): December 22, 2023 - January 1, 2024 January 2024 Fire Service Briefing: January 9, 2024 @ 10-11am via Zoom Closed (Dr. Martin L. King, Jr.’s Birthday): January 15, 2024 First Arriving: Having a Winner’s Mindset on the Fireground: January 17-18, 2024 Personnel Standards & Education Commission Quarterly Work Session & Meeting: January 16-17 Alabama EMS Challenge (Talladega): January 17, 2024 @ 9am2:30pm at Talladega Superspeedway, 3366 Speedway Blvd., Talladega Alabama EMS Challenge (Alabaster): January 24, 2024 @ 9am2:30pm at Alabaster Water Department Building, 200 Kent Stone Blvd., Alabaster February 2024 ISO – Public Protection Classifications (Hoover): February 5, 2024 @ 9am-3:30pm at The Wynfrey Hotel, 1000 Galleria Circle, Birmingham Alabama Fire Service Professional Development Conference: February 6-8, 2024 at The Wynfrey Hotel, 1000 Galleria Circle, Birmingham AFFC’s Essentials of Fire Chaplaincy: February 9-10, 2024 Fire Service Briefing: February 13, 2024 @ 10-11am via Zoom AFFC’s Essentials of Fire Chaplaincy: February 26-27, 2024 in Mobile (Location TBA)
FIRE CHIEF
101
presented by the Alabama Fire College This course is specifically designed for the volunteer and combination fire chief and board member that serves in departments in Alabama. The topics covered in this course were selected based upon the laws that impact the fire service in this state as well as the common questions and support requests that are received from the fire service. As firefighters we do a good job with the on-scene issues, but it is those administrative issues and gray areas that often give us trouble. Each session of this course will be delivered through digital means and presenters are from various agencies that have impact on the fire service in Alabama. Participants are encouraged to have their departments information handy and to participate in the frequent question and answer sessions that are provided throughout the program.
SCHEDULE January 18, 2024: Introductions, topics to be covered, and a brief explanation of the program and its purpose. We will review the standard Chief 101 presentation and legal responsibilities, and prepare for individual areas of instruction.
January 25, 2024: Interaction with public examiners, the Alabama Fire Marshal’s Office, and the Forestry Department. We will review financial issues, reporting, and how to build in internal control to your department and association.
February 8, 2024: The state archive system, the Fire Marshal’s Office, and the Alabama Fire College, including an explanation of Resource Description and Access, record retention, the Alabama Open Meetings Act, and the National Fire Incident Reporting System.
February 22, 2024: Department of Revenue, Forestry, purchasing, sales tax exemption, SOP(G), insurance, organizational effectiveness, and Fire College dashboard training.
March 14, 2024: Grants (Federal, State, Local, Private), discussion of various grant programs, and grant management efforts.
March 28, 2024: How to use technology and some free resources to better manage your manpower, equipment and other departmental management issues.
REGISTER Scan the QR code to register online! 1(800)241-2467 | registration@alabamafirecollege.org
become an EMT, on your schedule, in 4 months. NO MATTER WHERE YOU LIVE, YOUR COMMUNITY NEEDS QUALIFIED EMERGENCY MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS. WE WANT TO HELP YOU BECOME THE SOLUTION TO THAT NEED.
Life-Paced EMT school begins January 2024.
Learn more at: www.alabamafirecollege.org/ems
SAFER (State of Alabama Firefighters Relief Fund) by: Steve Pegues
I am writing to you today with regard to the new State of Alabama Firefighters Relief Fund, or S.A.F.E.R., that has been established for ALL active volunteer and paid firefighters along with the wild land firefighters employed by the Alabama Forestry commission. This fund has been established to assist a firefighter and their families in case of a service-related injury or death and also will allow for a firefighter to apply for other emergency assistance that might arise. Some of the automatic benefits include: If a FF dies and that death is eligible for Federal LODD benefits, the fund will provide up to $15,000.00 for funeral and burial expense. If a FF is injured and is hospitalized the Fund will provide the family with $100.00 per day of hospitalization to cover cost of food, parking, gas etc. If the hospitalization is out of town the Fund will cover or reimburse the family for hotel expense whiles staying with their loved one. If a volunteer FF is injured and cannot work their primary job the Fund will provide $2000.00 per month, in two month increments, to help cover utility bill, food expense etc. These are just a few of the benefits that the Board of Directors has voted to provide. The attached card has listed the web address that will provide more information. Our proposed date for the beginning of benefits is January 1, 2024. We are asking each department, both paid and volunteer, to help secure a $250.00, or more, donation from within their coverage area. All donations are tax deductible as the S.A.F.E.R. Fund is a 501(c)3. A copy of the approval letter from the IRS can be provided is requested. We are also working to secure funding from private corporations and individuals. If you have any questions regarding this new program you may email me at srp995@gmail.com. Please help us support the firefighters in your department in the event of a service related injury. Help us Support Those Who Serve the State of Alabama.
CERTIFICATION & CURRICULUM UPDATES The NFPA Standards Committees update standards typically every five years to ensure that the most up-to-date information, technology, and industry standards are included in the curriculum that is produced and used in classroom delivery. To maintain accreditation with Pro Board and IFSAC, the AFC has a two-year deadline to update to these new editions. CHANGES TO ROPE RESCUE COURSES: Technical Rescue Personnel (TRP): Rope Rescue Awareness & Operations, currently “RT: Rope I,” will result in ProBoard and IFSAC certifications to the Awareness and Operations levels. This course will remain 40 hours after the update. The new textbook will be Jones & Bartlett’s Rope Rescue, 5th edition. Technical Rescue Personnel (TRP): Rope Rescue Technician, currently “RT: Rope II,” will result in ProBoard and IFSAC certifications to the Technician level. This course will increase from 24 hours to 40 hours after the update. The new textbook will be Jones & Bartlett’s Rope Rescue, 5th edition. Roll out for these new courses is January 1, 2024 CHANGES TO EXTRICATION COURSES: Currently, we offer RT: Vehicle & Machinery Extrication I in one 40-hour course. NFPA has added a Heavy Vehicle chapter. Due to this addition, we will now offer the following separate 40-hour courses after the update. Technical Rescue Personnel (TRP): Common Passenger Vehicle Rescue, currently “RT: Vehicle Extrication I,” will result in ProBoard and IFSAC certifications for Awareness, Operations, & Technician certifications), Jones & Bartlett’s Vehicle Rescue and Extrication, Revised 2nd Edition. Roll out for these new courses is January 1, 2024 Technical Rescue Personnel (TRP): Heavy Vehicle & Machinery Rescue will result in ProBoard and IFSAC certifications for Heavy Vehicle Awareness, Operations, & Technician as well as ProBoard and IFSAC certifications in Machinery Awareness, Operations, and Technician. The new textbook will be Jones & Bartlett’s Vehicle Rescue and Extrication, Revised 2nd Edition. The Machinery courses are still in development, possible roll out Summer, 2024 CHANGES TO WATER RESCUE COURSES: Technical Rescue Personnel (TRP): Surface Water Rescue, currently “RT: Surface Water I/II,” will result in ProBoard and IFSAC certifications for Surface Water Awareness, Operations, & Technician and will remain a 24-hour course. The new text will be Jones & Bartlett’s Water Rescue, 3rd Edition. Technical Rescue Personnel (TRP): Swiftwater Rescue, currently “RT: Swiftwater I/II,” will result in ProBoard and IFSAC certifications for Swiftwater Awareness, Operations, & Technician and will remain a 20-hour course. The new textbook will be Jones & Bartlett’s Water Rescue, 3rd Edition. Roll out for these new courses is January 1, 2024 Technical Rescue Personnel (TRP): Watercraft Rescue will be a new 40-hour course resulting in ProBoard and IFSAC certifications for Watercraft Awareness, Operations, and Technician. The textbook will be Jones & Bartlett’s Water Rescue, 3rd Edition. This course is now available!
CONTINUED
CHANGES TO OTHER RESCUE TECHNICIAN COURSES: Technical Rescue Personnel (TRP): Cave Rescue, currently RT: Cave I/II, will result in ProBoard and IFSAC certifications for Awareness, Operations, and Technician. There is no textbook required for this course. This will remain a 40-hour course. Technical Rescue Personnel (TRP): Confined Space Rescue, currently RT: Confined Space I/II, will result in ProBoard and IFSAC certifications for Awareness, Operations, & Technician. The new textbook will be CMC’s Confined Space Rescue Technician Manual, Revised 2nd Edition. This will remain a 40-hour course. Technical Rescue Personnel (TRP): Structural Collapse Rescue, currently RT: Structural Collapse I/II, will result in ProBoard and IFSAC certifications for Awareness, Operations, and Technician. This will remain an 80-hour course. Technical Rescue Personnel (TRP): Trench Rescue, currently RT: Trench I/II, will result in ProBoard and IFSAC certifications for Awareness, Operations, & Technician. The new textbook will be Jones & Bartlett’s Trench Rescue, 4th Edition. This will remain a 40-hour course. Technical Rescue Personnel (TRP): Wilderness Rescue, currently RT: Wilderness I/II, will result in ProBoard and IFSAC certifications for Awareness, Operations, and Technician. There will be no textbook change for this course. This will remain a 40-hour course. Roll out for these new courses is January 1, 2024 CHANGES TO INVESTIGATOR COURSES: Fire Investigator, currently Fire Investigator I, will remain a 40-hour course and result in ProBoard and IFSAC certifications to the Fire Investigator level. The new textbook is IFSTA’s Fire Investigator, 3rd edition. New Course released July 1, 2023 Advanced Fire Investigator, currently Fire Investigator II, will result in a certification issued by the State of Alabama. The new textbook will be IFSTA’s Fire Investigator, 3rd edition. Roll out date for Advanced Fire Investigator is Spring, 2024 CHANGES TO HAZ MAT COURSES: HM/WMD Awareness and Operations, will remain a 40-hour course and result in ProBoard and IFSAC certifications to the HM/WMD Awareness, Operations, Mission Specific Levels: PPE, Product Control, Mass Decon and Technical Decon. The new textbook will be the AFC’s HM/WMD Awareness & Operations Student Manual. This new program will also contain an APERI course option HM/WMD Technician, will remain a 50-hour course and result in ProBoard and IFSAC certifications to the HM/WMD Technician Level. The new textbook will be IFSTA’s Managing the Incident, 5th edition. HM/WMD Incident Commander, will remain a 40-hour course and result in ProBoard and IFSAC certifications to the HM/WMD Technician Level. The new textbook will be IFSTA’s Managing the Incident, 5th edition. Roll out date for these new courses is January 1, 2024 CHANGES TO PUBLIC SAFETY TELECOMMUNICATOR COURSES: Public Safety Telecommunicator I and II, will remain a 24-hour course and result in ProBoard and IFSAC certifications to the Public Safety Telecommunicator I and II levels. Roll out date for new course is January 1, 2024