Council on Firefighter Training, 04/2012

              Council on Firefighter Training
www.COFT-Oklahoma.org • 405-601-8862 • fax 405-601-7996 • email contact@coft-oklahoma.org
COFT Busy on All Levels for Oklahoma Firefighters
Jon Hansen, COFT
Executive Director
G r e e t i n g s
Oklahoma Fire
Service!
A n o t h e r
busy month for
your Council on
Firefighter Training
in the Great State
of Oklahoma! We
have been a part
of different issues
at the Capitol,
training events, disaster exercises,
our Cardiovascular Wellness
program launch, GIS partnership
with Chesapeake Midstream, and
the State Chiefs Conference hosted
by the Purcell Fire Department. A
quick reminder to our Volunteer
Firefighters … Please send your
paperwork in for your Earned
Training Tax Credit as soon as
possible. Council staff is currently
providing a two-day turn-around in
most cases. Thanks!
CARDIOVASCULAR WELLNESS
PROGRAM
Our Cardiovascular Wellness
program is in full swing. Firefighters
from Midwest City and Watonga are
currently in screening. Tecumseh,
Chandler, Mustang and Clinton will
start soon. This is the only the start
of an optional community based
program to increase the overall
cardiovascular health of Oklahoma
Firefighters and the Citizens we
serve. Heart Attacks remain the
number one (1) cause in line of duty
deaths (LODD’s). We will continue
to do everything we can to help you
lower your risk. Check out our web
site for Healthy Heart Tips.
GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION
SYSTEMS (GIS) and MAPPING
TECHNOLOGY
COFT, The State Fire Marshal’s
Office and Chesapeake Midstream
have formed a “Public-Private”
partnership to provide different
types of mapping technology to
Oklahoma Firefighters. The goal is to
standardize information and maps
so a common operating picture
can be provide to all emergency
responders with complete and
accurate information. This valuable
information can be computer-based
using the web, computer-based
using the hard drive, or in map books
in your apparatus. It will include, but
not be limited to, above and below
ground infrastructure, topography,
and utilities. Buildings, Haz Mat and
other valuable information can be
added as the project continues. We
hope to make GIS tools and quality
maps available to all emergency
responders across the state
regardless of resource
level, location or size of
department.
O K L A H O M A
FIRE CHIEFS
A S S O C I A T I O N
CONFERENCE - OFCA
The Oklahoma
Fire Chiefs Association
annual conference was
a big success. The Purcell
Fire Department hosted the event
in Norman. President Mike Clifton
passed the leadership role to new
President Grant Deason. The Chiefs
Executive board passed a resolution
of support for the National Seat Belt
Pledge, encouraging all Oklahoma
Fire Departments to participate and
“Buckle Up”. Vehicle accidents rank
second (2nd) in firefighter line of duty
deaths (LODD’s). The Chiefs board
also passed a resolution of support
for the Oklahoma Performance
Based, Earned, Volunteer Training
Incentive program. The OFCA
and COFT have joined together to
sponsor the “Blue Card” program in
Oklahoma. Blue Card is an incident
management program where focus
is placed on the local (type 4 & 5)
situations. We have 25 Chief Officers
currently enrolled in the program.
TRAINING EVENTS – DISASTER
EXERCISE
The Bob Smith Wildland Fire
School was the event; McAlister
Army Ammunitions Plant (MCAAP)
was the location. Approximately
300 firefighters from around the
state attended the two-day program.
Firefighters had the option of
participating in both classroom and
live fire training. MCAAP Chief Don
Capps and staff, OSU-FST, and the
Department of Forestry did another
outstanding job. COFT staff was
also on board to process earned,
performance based, training
incentives for our Volunteers. The
Oklahoma All Hazards Incident
Management Team (OAHIMT)
was onsite for training and
support.
The Lawton Fire
Department, Lawton
Department of
Airports and
s u r r o u n d i n g
e m e r g e n c y
response agencies
participated in
the “Lawton/Fort
Sill Regional Airport
Exercise”. Lawton Deputy
Chief Juan Rodriguez served as
the Incident Commander. The
objectives of the exercise were
to evaluate the decision making
process, the capability of implement
ICS, and effectively transition to
Unified Command. The drill also
tested the ability to establish
multidisciplinary communications,
and test responder’s ability to triage,
treat, and transport from a mass
casualty incident. Chief Rodriguez
and Lawton Fire did an outstanding
job in all areas of the event.
16 FIREFIGHTER LIFE SAFETY
INITIATIVES – YOUR TRAINING
TASK FORCE
In each issue, we focus on one
of the 16 Firefighter Life Safety
Initiatives. Number 5 talks about
training qualifications that are
applicable to all firefighters based
on the duties they are expected to
perform. That is one of the many
reasons your Training Task Force
developed the “Oklahoma 5 Levels of
Firefighter,” and is currently working
on the “Oklahoma Company/Chief
Officer Leadership Development”
program. These are programs
developed by Oklahoma Firefighters
for Oklahoma Firefighters! They are
flexible, so when changes need to be
made they can be done quickly to
meet your needs. Your Training Task
Force is a mix of paid, combination,
and volunteer firefighters, of all
ranks from across our great state.
Firefighters serving firefighters.
LEGISLATIVE ISSUES
Many Fire Service Organizations
have been busy at the Capitol this
year. The OSFA, OFCA, PFFO and
ORFA have worked hard on pension
issues. Other groups including, but
not limited to, the FMAO, State
Fire Marshal’s Office, Rural Fire
Coordinators, and COFT work to help
educate and raise the awareness of
our elected officials on issues that
affect different areas of our vast fire
service.
A couple of bills, SB 1623 and
HB 3061, have current language
that will eliminate the Performance
Based, Earned, Volunteer Training
Incentive. Both bills have the titles off
and are currently under committee
review. You have good support from
our elected officials, and the current
feeling is that the program will
survive.
We will continue to work with
our elected officials to develop and
implement positive programs that
will lower the severity and frequency
of fires, keep our Firefighters and
Citizens out of harm’s way, and
continue to protect the economy of
our great state.
In closing, please BUCKLE UP,
and watch out for each other
during training events and on the
fire ground. Please contact us to
schedule a visit or program soon.
Let’s stay safe, together.
JON
405-620-6262
jonh@coft-oklahoma.org
ALL
IN!
Oklahoma Fire Service
Firefighter-Citizen Safety & Survival
• Oklahoma Fire Service •
Firefighter-Citizen Safety & Survival