REPORT Progress
W I N T E R 2 0 2 4
ALABAMA FIRE COLLEGE
SINCE 1935
M I S S I O N
Our continuing commitment is to facilitate excellence in education, training, certification, and support services for the emergency response community
V I S I O N
We, the Alabama Fire College, will be the answer to the needs of the fire and emergency service community
C O M M I T M E N T
In order to positively impact our consumers, we will continue to gauge our performance against five core strategies: to provide excellent education and training; to provide excellent customer service; to support the Alabama fire service; to promote higher education; and to ensure stewardship of public resources
Since 1935, the Alabama Fire College has delivered fire fighter training. As service demands on fire departments have expanded, the Fire College has developed EMS, hazardous materials, rescue technician, and other programs to meet those changing needs The Fire College’s capacity to adapt to these changes is directly attributable to the dedication and commitment of the full and part-time staff and to the guidance and direction of the Fire College’s governing body, the Alabama Firefighters Personnel Standards and Education Commission. Because local, State, and Federal fire fighters entrust us with their training, we are committed to ensuring they receive the most comprehensive educational experience possible and that the training they receive complies with nationally recognized standards
Alabama Fire College employees are committed to ensuring our facilities and services are impeccable. In order to positively impact our consumers, we will continue to gauge our performance against five core strategies: to provide excellent education and training; to provide excellent customer service; to support the Alabama fire service; to promote higher education; and to ensure stewardship of public resources If we may be of service to you or your organization now or in the future, please do not hesitate to contact us.
Respectfully,
Matt Russell, Executive Director
www.alabamafirecollege.org
registration@alabamafirecollege.org
1 800 241 2467
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In 2018, we were dually accredited by IFSAC* and ProBoard** to certify 64 of our courses In 2024, we have increased to 74 and counting!
*IFSAC: International Fire Service Accreditation Congress
**ProBoard: National Board on Fire Service Professional Qualifications
Alabama is served by paid & volunteer personnel at more than 1,160 fire departments.
Over 10,000 of these emergency responders are Certified Volunteer Fire Fighters and over 8,500 are certified as Career Fire Fighters. These dedicated citizens respond from over 980 volunteer fire departments, 68 paid departments, and 118 combination fire departments
How has Alabama Fire College impacted training locally?
AFC has partnered with 22 fire departments that meet specific criteria to provide approved training at locations throughout the state We have dedicated personnel serving each of the ten regions This effort has allowed us to return $1,879,710 to these local departments over the past eight years for instructor wages and profit share from the courses conducted at their locations. Because training is conducted locally, fire departments have been able to save $5,383,350 in travel, meals, and lodging expenses. *Classes taught at other fire departments (not RTC locations) are delivered tuition-free!
Department Delivery*
EMS training: the cornerstone for a successful career in emergency response
We offer three levels of emergency medical technician: EMT (in-person or online), Advanced EMT, and Paramedic, plus a Critical Care Academy. Additionally, we support initiatives like a sports responder class and a continuing
e ama Fire College Paramedic Program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (www caahep org) upon the recommendation of the Committee on Accreditation of Educational Programs for the Emergency Medical Services Professions (CoAEMSP). We take pride in making sure our students are prepared to pass certification exams for the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians. Our paramedic program has an impressive 88.5% graduation rate, with graduates quickly finding employment in EMS. Our graduates serve the public in EMS, fire service, law enforcement, and hospitals
Program graduates
Funding Sources
In 2023, we were able to use federal grant funding to pay for all or part of a new driving simulator, pumping apparatus simulator, a new ambulance, and an online dashboard for records management and registration
Federal funding (cumulative since 2017)
(AFC paid any matching or required fees out of the operating budget.)
NEW AERIAL PLATFORM APPARATUS | $1,914,805
The Alabama Fire College currently uses a 2004 American LaFrance aerial platform. The manufacturer is no longer in business, meaning parts are difficult to find when repairs are needed. Other factors necessitating replacement include frequent down time, maintenance and repair costs, increased insurance expense, obsolescence of equipment for training purposes, and most importantly, the safety of those using the equipment The National Fire Protection Association recommends that aerial apparatus be retired after 20-25 years of service; safe, reliable, and dependable apparatus are integral to firefighter training and as such, this aerial is approaching obsolescence and should be retired and replaced.
NEW BUILDING TO HOUSE EMS & CERTIFICATION
| $18 MILLION* (PROJECTED: 15M
BUILDING + 3M CONTENTS)
A new building on campus would be constructed to house the entire EMS program, as well as our Certification department which handles student testing Because of the success of our on-campus and distance delivery EMS courses, these programs continue to grow. As such, the EMS program needs office space, a skills testing laboratory, and classroom space. The new building would also allow our ambulance to be stationed in EMS (it is currently kept across campus) and adjacent to our training drill field, allowing for expedited response to any accidents or injuries, and making it available for EMS students to train on the loading and care of patients an actual ambulance setting We are also in dire need of dedicated computer-based testing facilities capable of housing up to one hundred students, as staff currently must deploy laptops in our auditorium to handle the testing load. This building would not only meet the needs of these two departments, but it would also allow the repurposing of existing space in our main building to add additional and much needed classroom space for firefighter training and office space needed for both current and planned staff
EMS:
Tables and chairs for classrooms
AV set up for distance delivery (3 classrooms and lab)
Office furniture (5 EMS offices)
Tables and equipment for breakout rooms (6)
Skills laboratory
Certification:
Testing lab carrels (up to 100 students)
Student seating
PCs and laptops for testing (additional)
Office furniture (6 Certification offices)
RENOVATIONS TO EXISTING BUILDING | $194,000
Cost to repurpose current lab space to instructor dorms: $150,000
Office furniture for reclaimed office space (4): $24,000
Trenching of floors to add power: $20,000
DRILLFIELD PROJECTS, IMPROVEMENTS, AND EQUIPMENT | $1,295,000
Upgrades to existing burn building: $150,000
Multi-story Class A & B conex burn facility: $365,000
Tower structure for tower rescue program: $205,000
*This would be a new capability for training and new program
Resurfacing/paving of all roads behind gates: $150,000
Replacement of crane: $100,000
Drillfield power project: $125,000
Concrete for remainder of Drill Field: $100,000
Misc Equipment (Structural Collapse, Trench, etc ): $100,000
FACILITIES PROJECTS | $155,000
Replacement of elevator in main building: $80,000
Replacement of sewer pump main station: $25,000
Repair of failing sewer drains: $50,000
IT PROJECTS | $38,000 Wi-fi equipment upgrades