Two officers from the Kingston Volunteer Fire Company No. 1 recently completed two separate incident management courses at the National Fire Academy in Emmitsburg, Maryland.
Capt. Walter Lane completed the Command and Control of Incident Operations course in February of this year.
In this six-day course, fire officers review the incident command system and studied proper fire command techniques for control and extinguishing fires ranging from small, residential structure fires to multi-occupancy, commercial complexes.
Topics covered in the course included problem-solving and fire command, interagency and mutual aid incident management, size up and strategy, tactics and action plans, truck company operations, engine company operations, building construction and fire behavior, pre-incident preparation, incident organization and strategic command. Special emphasis is placed on firefighter safety.
Capt. Lane is a nine-year veteran of the fire company and a previous graduate of several other NFA courses. He also has a bachelor’s degree in environmental policy from Rutgers University in New Brunswick.
Chief Lloyd Mathis completed the Command and Control of Fire Department Operations at Target Hazards course in April of this year.
This six-day course is designed to introduce command officers to the complexities involved in commanding incidents in high-risk areas.
Students are confronted with a number of fire and rescue incidents that include high-life hazard, multiple exposure and unusual occupancy risk considerations.
The students are taught advanced applications in the incident command system, command and control, decision making, strategic and tactical considerations, pre-incident preparation, documentation and post-incident analysis.
Several simulations and case studies are used to depict and review incidents in various types of target hazards.
Some examples of these are penal institutions, bulk oil-storage facilities, nursing homes, colleges, chemical/agricultural manufacturing plants and grain elevators.
Chief Mathis is a 24-year member of the fire company and a previous graduate of a number of NFA courses. He holds an associate degree in physical science from Valley Forge Military College.
Both courses are very comprehensive and use lectures, case studies, simulations and student participation as instructional methods.
The National Fire Academy is located on the grounds of the National Emergency Training Center, a 107-acre campus that also houses the Emergency Management Institute and the United State Fire Administration Headquarters in Emmitsburg.
The USFA, EMI and NFA are all part of the Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency.
All costs associated for travel, lodging and course materials are reimbursed by the federal government.
For additional information about the National Fire Academy and its curriculum, go to www.usfa.dhs.gov .
Anyone interested in joining the professional volunteers in the Kingston Fire Company can e-mail Chief Mathis at [email protected].
