Bright and early on Saturday morning, young men and women dressed in collared shirts and slacks streamed into the L.A. Fire Department’s training academy in Elysian Park to learn what it takes to be a firefighter.
Almost all of the approximately 80 people in attendance are black – a turnout the department was hoping for.
“I want to make sure our department represents the communities we serve,” said Fire Chief Brian Cummings as he addressed the room at the Frank Hotchkin Memorial Training Center.
This informational session is part of a minority recruitment …

Pick up a newspaper or watch the evening news in just about any town or city, and you’re bound to see and hear about the misdeeds of a firefighter, paramedic or other responder.
Angry and upset about how these actions are affecting the storied reputation of emergency services, a Code of Ethics has been created, and fire officials are hoping departments across the country adopt it.
The Code of Ethics document now graces the walls of classroom buildings at the National Fire Academy in Maryland.
In addition, the information is in all NFA …

 
Researchers at Natick’s U. S. Army Research Institute of Environmental Medicine have teamed up with the Massachusetts Firefighting Academy in Stow, Mass., in an effort to reduce injuries in recruits. 
The Massachusetts Firefighting Academy, or MFA, contacted USARIEM’s Military Performance Division and asked researchers to evaluate their physical training program for recruits after seeing a spike in training-related injuries.
Instructors for the 12-week program noticed that recruits were showing up not fully ready to handle the physical stress that comes with the academy. As a result, recruits were frequently lost to injury.
“We …

The following video highlights the survival of the fittest that is the Fire Academy. Months of rigorous training, on time meaning half an hour early and excuses are just that – excuses. 
 

MSHA recently announced it has awarded $500,000 in grant funds to six organizations that provide education and training within the mining industry.
The Brookwood-Sago grants program was established through a provision in the Mine Improvement and New Emergency Response Act of 2006, and fiscal year 2009′s funding will target the development and implementation of training and training materials for mine emergency preparedness and haulage safety.
“Although the training services of the six grant recipients will be targeted toward underground coal mines, MSHA opened up the application process this year to metal and …

The Monmouth County Fire Academy, Howell, recently graduated 30 volunteers from the Firefighter I program. The ceremony was held Aug. 12.
Members of Class No. 82 attended weekend classes at the fire academy and completed 164 hours of course work over 24 sessions. They received training in rescue, fire extinguishment, hazardous materials response, cardiopulmonary resuscitation, electrical safety, and care of hoses, ladders and other equipment, according to a press release.
“As graduates of this program you will serve your friends, neighbors and community as you embark on a public service career,” Monmouth …