FEEDBACK: Training Needs

URGENT: Feedback Needed - 2009-2010 Training Needs

We are asking all Erie County Fire Departments to submit their 2009 Training Course Requests by February 9, 2009 so that we can begin the process of scheduling courses to start after April 1, 2009.

Thanks to your commitment to training, we delivered and exceeded the 2,400 State training hours alloted to us in FY-2008-2009.

Although we have not yet received our training allotment from the NY State Office of Fire Prevention & Control for their 2009-2010 fiscal year, we hope to receive at least as many hours as we did in 2008-2009. As in past years, we requested more than 5,000 training hours from the State. The more course requests we receive now - the more additional hours we can request be assigned to our county throughout the year as necessary. The State's fiscal year runs from April 1-March 31.

Please remember that Courses 05-Fire Police; 1Y-Apparatus Operator-EVOC and 505-Fire Radio Communications are typically available year round as they are also taught by County Instructors. While our State training hours were cut by 500 last year, our County training budget was increased by approximately 400 hours and should remain constant this year.

The standard training course request form can be downloaded from http://www.blogger.com/www.erie.gov/fire. It must be completed and submitted by an authorized chief or training officer.

A complete listing of available State courses can be found at: http://www.dos.state.ny.us/fire/residential.html. Please note that outreach courses available for field delivery are indicated by an "O" designation next to their description.

Please also note that certain courses have pre-requisites. Specifically, 1Y-Apparatus Operator-EVOC is the pre-requisite for 78-Apparatus Operator-Pump and 79-Apparatus Operator-Aerial Devices.

FIREFIGHTER 1:
In addition to these course requests, we need to know how many new recruits your fire department has who need Firefighter 1 training. We will prioritize class locations and allocation accordingly. Please reply to the Fire Safety Office ASAP via e-mail with this information and your contact information for follow-up.

Thanks in advance for your cooperation in this important matter. As always, please do not hesitate to contact our office should you have any questions or require further information.