|  | Public Health Safety | Public Health

Fire & Emergency Training

Government agencies, colleges and private companies offer numerous training opportunities for personnel in the fire suppression and emergency management fields. Although some options cost money, many carry no cost or the agency offers scholarships. Available topics range from ethics to public health hazards to the latest suppression techniques. Both online and on campus opportunities exist.

  1. Online Government Fire Training

    • The U.S. government provides three free online training opportunities for fire suppression personnel. The U.S. Fire Administration provides online courses and one-page illustrated fact sheets covering basic fire suppression topics. The Federal Emergency Management Agency offers the Emergency Management Institute, with more than 70 courses in topics like hazardous materials and the Incident Command System. Active firefighters have four free courses to choose from at the National Wildfire Coordinating Group: Basic Wildland Suppression Orientation, Introduction to the Incident Command System, Introduction to Wildland Fire Behavior and Firefighter Training.

    Online Private Fire Training

    • "Fire Engineering" magazine provides departmental drill exercises for fire departments, interactive webcasts and educational videos. Its FE University offers continuing education credit courses. Firehouse magazine offers departmental field-training exercises in print and downloadable versions designed for basic and advanced skill levels. The Fire & Emergency Training Network offers fire training videos via its CiNow online learning management system. The videos are compliant with applicable federal agency standards, i.e. the Occupational Safety and Health Administration.

    Online Government Emergency Training

    • FEMA also provides online training to emergency response personnel on subjects such as integrated emergency management, technological hazards and natural hazards. Emergency personnel at the state, county and local levels receive free training courses and exercises from state governments, such as the New York State Emergency Management Office Training Program and Wisconsin Emergency Management Training Program.

    Online Private Emergency Training

    • The Johns Hopkins Center for Public Health Preparedness offers numerous online training options in such areas as chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear terror, general public health preparedness, mental health preparedness and infectious disease and vaccines. The Fire & Emergency Training Network also offers training videos for emergency responders.

    Offline Government Training

    • Volunteer firefighters may apply for classroom training at the U.S. Fire Administration campus in Emmitsburg, Maryland. Accepted students receive travel stipends, lodging, materials, books and ground transportation from and to airports in the Washington, D.C., area. FEMA also offers courses in both fire and emergency management topics at its campus in Emmitsburg.

    Offline Private Training

    • A fire or emergency responder desiring a degree in his field may obtain an undergraduate or graduate degree or certificate from many U.S. and international universities, studying online or on campus. FEMA maintains a list of available degree programs.

Public Health - Related Articles