REPORT Progress
ALABAMA FIRE COLLEGE
SINCE 1935
Our continuing commitment is to facilitate excellence in education, training, certification, and support services for the emergency response community
We, the Alabama Fire College, will be the answer to the needs of the fire and emergency service community
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
S P R I N G 2 0 2 4 V I S I O N M I S S I O N
C O M M I T M E N T
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
In 2018, we were dually accredited by IFSAC* and ProBoard** to certify 64 of our courses In 2023, that number increased to 74 and counting!
*IFSAC: International Fire Service Accreditation Congress
**ProBoard: National Board on Fire Service Professional Qualifications
connect with us: www.alabamafirecollege.org registration@alabamafirecollege.org
800 241 2467 alabamafirecollege alabamafirecollege alfirecollege alfirecollege
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CAMPUS MAP
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 $1,471,627 to these local departments over the past seven 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!
LOCATIONS YEARS COURSES ATTENDANCE STUDENT HOURS AVERAGE # STUDENTS PER CLASS Campus 2022-23 2021-22 2020-21 2019-20 2018-19 2017-18 2016-17 162 150 151 115 127 119 127 4,067 3,005 2,774 2,308 2,348 2,424 2,206 122,266 98,071 90,802 82,154 90,140 86,815 83,150 25 10 20 03 18 37 20 07 18 48 20 37 17 37 RTCs 2022-23 2021-22 2020-21 2019-20 2018-19 2017-18 2016-17 170 141 139 81 134 136 133 2,757 2,132 1,963 1,099 1,774 1,851 1,642 131,010 91,368 62,626 61,736 77,776 93,652 82,858 16 22 15 12 14 12 13 57 13 24 13 66 12 35 Department Delivery* 2022-23 2021-22 2020-21 2019-20 2018-19 2017-18 2016-17 1141 1,093 969 816 1,063 1,204 1,280 16,237 13,564 13,224 12,040 14,888 16,937 19,482 369,151 375,755 295,534 259,375 321301 345,422 335,569 14.23 12.41 13.65 14.75 14.01 15.22 14.07
MAIN
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 education program (EMS Challenge). The Alabama Fire College Paramedic Program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs upon the recommendation of the Committee on Accreditation of Educational Programs for the Emergency Medical Services Professions (CoAEMSP). 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
EMS training: the cornerstone for a successful career in emergency response Program graduates
The Alabama 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
Years EMT Advanced EMT Paramedic 2022-23 2021-22 2020-21 2019-20 2018-19 2017-18 2016-17 90 53 31 25 30 40 52 34 49 21 27 38 17 57 38 15 13 26 19 22 9 Paramedic Program Performance 2020 2021 2022 Average (3yr) Enrollment/Graduation (Retention %) 29/26 (89 7%) 16/13 (81 3%) 16/15 (93 8%) 88 5% NREMT Cognitive Pass Rate (1st Attempt %) 25 (96.17%) 13 (100%) 15 (100%) 98.1% NREMT Psycho-motor Pass Rate (1st Attempt %) 26 (100%) 13 (100%) 15 (100)%) 100% Positive Placement (Employment %) 26 (100%) 13 (100%) 15 (100)%) 100%
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.)
0% 20% 40% Stateappropriations 51% Studenttuition&fees 28% Federalgrants&contracts 11% Auxiliaryenterprises 5% Otheroperatingrevenue 5%
National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences $ 5,610,453.00 Assistance to Firefighters Grants $ 2,630,218 07 Hazardous Materials Emergency Preparedness $ 2,192,234 00 Homeland Security Grant Program / IMT $ 244,863 00 State Fire Training Systems Grant $ 140,000 00 Pipeline Emergency Response Grant $ 525,537 00 Rural Utilities Service $ 115,282 00
NRAEL M OREABOUTYOUR NOIGER
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 | $9-10 MILLION* (PROJECTED)
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
FURNITURE & EQUIPMENT RELATED TO NEW BUILDING | $520,000 (BREAKDOWN BELOW)
EMS:
Tables and chairs for classrooms (approx. $55,000 ea.): $165,000
AV set up for distance delivery (3 classrooms and lab $15,000 ea ): $60,000
Office furniture (5 EMS offices): $50,000
Tables and equipment for breakout rooms (6): $30,000
Skills laboratory: $22,000
Certification:
Testing lab carrels (up to 100 students): $48,000
Student seating: $45,000
PCs and laptops for testing (additional): $40,000
Office furniture (6 Certification offices): $60,000
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
TOTAL: $13,116,805 (INCLUDES $9,000,000 FOR BUILDING / $4,116,805 FOR OTHER ITEMS)