Training
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Training Mission
Association Weekend Academy

We encourage Fire Police Training by conducting simultaneously 8 to 14 courses (16 hours each), Certified by the Pennsylvania State Fire Academy and it's local level instructors. Programs are scheduled in early April and the first weekend after Labor Day. Students attend from all areas of Pennsylvania and some neighboring states.

The Weekend Academy concept makes it possible to have advanced and special classes which would not be accomplished at the local fire company department or individual county levels because of attendance or funding.

Included is a Friday evening seminar directed to a current topic that affects all students participating.

The first F.P.W.A was conducted spring 1988 at U.P.J Johnstown. In 1989 the site was moved to Somerset with better Pennsylvania Turnpike access (exit #10). As of 1998, we have coordinated 21 F.P.W.A. .

F.P.W.A is sponsored by Somerset County Fire Police Assn. founded in 1983, Cambria County Fire Police Assn., founded 1990, and various community college funding partners. The missions of both county fire police associations is to disseminate knowledge and experience of value to fire police by training classes and publications; and to seek at all times the betterment of the fire police service. Prior to F.P.W.A in 1988, Dr. John H. Bell, Jr. and Dr. Norman W. Borring achieved experience by coordinating over 40 local and county classes in five years.

About 1985, Doc Bell established the incentive training awards program. Awards are presented for 50 hours, 100 hours and 150 hours of fire police training.

The training manuals and 2nd editions for the six fire police courses accepted by the Pennsylvania State Fire Academy were compiled by the late Dr. Norman W. Borring, also the first "Train the trainer" instructor for Fire Police.

At the First National Fire Police Summit on March 6, 1999 at Half-way (Hagerstown) Maryland, Dr. John H. Bell Jr. presented that state-wide mandatory training programs must be instituted to decrease the fatalities of Fire Police on duty.



Certifications and Training
Current State Certifications

Pennsylvania as of 2015 now only supports two levels of state certification, Basic (BFPO) and Advanced (FIPA) Fire Police;

Course
Details:
Basic Fire Police
(BFPO/FSC 0604)
This is a 16 hour course comprised of an introduction to the need of Fire Police, their exact legal powers, qualifications to be one and training of the fundamental functions for being a Fire Police Officer.
Advanced Fire Police
(FIPA/FSC 0604)
This is an additional 16 hour course comprised more into policies and procedures, legal liabilities and courts, communications and social interactions, advanced traffic controls and larger scale scenarios and acting as safety and security at scenes.
Previous State Certifications

There are 7 previous certifications that have been phased out but are still taught as optional training in some locations.

If you find any of these classes still taught it is recommended to attend for the knowledge regardless of certification.

Course
Details:
Legal Concepts
(LCFP/FSC 0244)
A 16 hour course oriented on the overall legal realm of Fire Police. Their actual legal powers and limits, expectations of court appearances, and common misconceptions of Fire Police authority.
Communications & PR
(CPFP/FSC 0241)
A 16 hour course oriented around proper communication and professional public interaction. This focus was both aimed at efficiency with other Fire Police and friendly and passive interactions with the public and bystanders, including verbal and non-verbal (such as body language) studies.
Emergency Responses
(ERFP/FSC 0239)
A 16 hour course aimed at personal training for Fire Police who responded personally to scenes and may be a first arrival. It's a multi-subject course that involved training on defensive driving (and traffic law), safe scene approaches, search and rescue, disaster responses, personnel accountability and even hazmat fundamentals.
Non-Emergency Responses
(NEFP/FSC 0330)
A 16 hour course aimed at training for Fire Police who performed social and municipal events, such as Parades, Funerals, Concerts, Sporting and School Events and even some personal-security concepts.
Fire Police Misconceptions
(FSC 0858)
A 4 hour course aimed at introducing and helping Fire Police Officers with PA Title 35's legal outline and capacities of Fire Police, as well as understanding the legal authorities in DoT Vehicle Code regulations of Title 67 and Title 75.
Fire Police Refresher
(FSC 0663)
A 4 hour course refresher of Basic Fire Police functions and notable changes to laws, policies or authority of Fire Police Officers.
Fire Police Review
(FSC 1001)
A 16 hour course intended to focus entirely on common misunderstandings in the duties and responsibilities of PA Fire Police and to help them better improve performance of their abilities with their station(s).


Extended Certifications
Recommended Training/Certification

These courses/certifications are highly recommended for achieving the absolute best efficient and safe standards of Fire Police.

Course/Purpose
Source/Website:
Incident Command System
The following 4 courses are heavily recommended (and even often required for joining a station) in being prepared for the common command and vocal response standards utilized by PA Emergency Services;
ICS 100
2 Hours
ICS 200
4 Hours
ICS 700
3.5 Hours
ICS 800
3 Hours
 
 
ResponderSafety.com
The following courses are recommended for knowledge of common state and federal operating procedures for the safety of you, other personnel and bystanders;
National TIM Certification
4 Hours
Scene Safety & Control
0.5 Hours
Scene Size-up/First Arrived
0.5 Hours
Intro to TIM Professional
0.5 Hours
POV Response Vehicle Lighting
0.5 Hours
 
 
PA Traffic Incident Management
(PA-TIM/FSC 0214)
A 4 hour course based on Pennsylvania's implementation of the National TIM, with focus on Pennsylvania Traffic and MUTCD laws and rules.
PA EVOC/EVDT
16 Hours
Highly recommended to take an EVOC/EVDT course for any apparatus you may use in Fire Police duties as well as to get PoV (Personal-Vehicle) EVOC/EVDT certified if you regularly respond with a vehicle personally.