• Your Fire Department Name:
• Your Name:
• Your Rank/Title:
• Your contact number and e-mail for follow-up:
• Total New Recruits in Need of Firefighter 1 Training:
  • Of that total number, how many have been waiting for Firefighter 1 training for:
    • * 2 months or less:
    • * 3-6 months:
    • * 6-12 months:
    • * More than 12 months:
• Total Members in Need of Scene Support Operations Training:
• Firefighters wanting to take Firefighter 2:

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

IMPORTANT NOTE: The current Training Course Request Form#ECFS-1002 is attached. Please note that the semester schedule has been adjusted to reflect the state’s fiscal year of 4/1-3/31 and the actual flow of the training seasons.

***PLEASE DOWNLOAD AND PRINT THIS REVISED FORM AND RECYCLE ALL OTHER EDITIONS.***

As always, we will be adding more courses throughout the year. Watch for the updated training schedule at www.erie.gov/fire. Have a safe winter!

Course runs: Thursday – 1/26/12 7pm-10pm Saturday – 1/26/12 8am-2pm

Course Description: Emergency Escape System: Train-the-Trainer course is designed to prepare fire department training staff  to conduct emergency escape system training in compliance with the requirements of 12 NYCRR 800.7 Emergency Escape Ropes and System Components for Firefighters.

Individuals attending this program will be trained to conduct initial and in-service training for exiting a window at elevation with the use of an emergency escape system. The course will focus on the requirements for conducting this training and will not address vendor specific emergency escape systems.

Completion of this course does not authorize individuals to issue NYS OFPC training certificates. The authority and responsibility for conducting emergency escape system training remains with the Authority Having Jurisdiction (AHJ).

Student Participation Requirements: This course is intended for those individuals assigned to conduct emergency escape system training for their agency. Attendance will be limited to 2-3 members per department. A completed Training Authorization Letter is required, and prior completion of the Firefighter Survival course is required and completion of Rescue Technician – Basic and previous instructor training is strongly recommended.

This course includes a significant “hands-on” practical component which includes exiting a window utilizing an emergency escape system and operation of belay (i.e. safety) systems.

Emergency Escape System use: Use of any agency supplied emergency escape system or components by participants may be allowed at the discretion of the lead instructor. This equipment must be clearly designated for training use only and written approval for its use during this course must be provided by the Chief Fire Official of the AHJ. Only equipment or components provided by OFPC or approved by the lead instructor will be utilized.

Course Completion Requirements: Students must attend all course units and successfully complete all skills testing to receive a certificate and credit for the course.

Course Number: 8Z12001

Course Length: (3) three hour units, 9 hours total.

Class Size: 10 Minimum – 18 Maximum.

Pre-requisite: NYS Firefighter Survival

Applications are being accepted now. Applications can be downloaded from www.erie.gov/fire. Course descriptions and pre-requisites can be found at: http://www.dos.state.ny.us/fire/residential.html

Please read all of the notes below, download the appropriate documents and share them with your recruits and firefighters. Start submitting standard training course applications and NYS OFPC training authorization forms immediately.

NEW COURSE ANNOUNCEMENTS:

• 2Y11002-Confined Space Rescue Technician at the TOC on Sat/Sun - 3/17, 3/18, 3/24, 3/25 - 8am-4pm each day.
  • Course#1S-Firefighter 1, Course#47-Rescue Technician-Basic and Course#35-Confined Space Awareness are the pre-requisites.
  • NOTE:  Students must also be physically capable of wearing SCBA and possess current medical clearance for SCBA use. Students not possessing this prerequisite will not be allowed to participate for their own safety. A completed “Training Authorization Letter” mailed with your registration will meet this requirement.
  • NOTE: This course requires that you complete and submit the attached NYS Fire Academy application and $25 state course registration fee to the NYS Fire Academy, in addition to the Erie County 1063-Emergency Services Training Course Application. See the attached document (Regional Registration Info Rev April 2009.pdf).
   
• 7V11001-Rope Rescue Ops at the TOC on Mon-Thu - 1/30, 1/31, 2/1, 2/2 - 8am-4pm each day.
• • Course#47-Rescue Technician-Basic is the pre-requisite.
  • NOTE: This course requires that you complete and submit the attached NYS Fire Academy application and $25 state course registration fee to the NYS Fire Academy, in addition to the Erie County 1063-Emergency Services Training Course Application. See the attached document (Regional Registration Info Rev April 2009.pdf).
  • A completed “Training Authorization Letter” is required at the time of registration.
• 7V11002-Rope Rescue Ops at the TOC on Sat/Sun – 2/25, 2/26, 3/3, 3/4 – 8am-4pm each day.
• • Course#47-Rescue Technician-Basic is the pre-requisite.
  • NOTE: This course requires that you complete and submit the attached NYS Fire Academy application and $25 state course registration fee to the NYS Fire Academy, in addition to the Erie County 1063-Emergency Services Training Course Application. See the attached document (Regional Registration Info Rev April 2009.pdf).
  • A completed “Training Authorization Letter” is required at the time of registration.
• 4711006 Rescue Technician-Basic at Bellevue will start 1/3/12 and will run on Monday, Wednesday and Saturday: 1/3, 1/5, 1/10, 1/12, 1/14=2X Saturday and 1/21=2X Saturday.
• • Course#1S-Firefighter 1 is the pre-requisite
  • A completed “Training Authorization Letter” is required at the time of registration.
• 8611001 Flammable and Combustible Liquids Emergencies starts at the TOC at 6:30pm on Mondays & Tuesdays 1/30-2/7/2012.
• 505-11001 Erie County Fire Radio Communications is scheduled for Thursday 1/12/2012 at 7pm at Bellevue.
• 510-11006 NITTEC Highway Safety Awareness is scheduled for Monday 12/19/2011 at 7pm at Holland.

• 3111003 Hazardous Materials First Responder Operations at Lake Erie Beach starts 1/16/12 at 6:30pm and runs for four (4) nights on Mondays and Wednesdays through 1/25/12 (Note: The start time and start and end dates are different than reported via a previous email). This class was postponed from earlier this fall and is now rescheduled. If you previously submitted an application for the originally scheduled course and would still like to attend, please contact the Fire Safety Office and we will add you to the roster. You only need to call or email, you do not need to resubmit an application.

IMPORTANT NOTES:

The Confined Space Rescue Technician and Rope Rescue Ops courses require that you complete and submit the attached NYS Fire Academy application and $25 fee IN ADDITION TO the Erie County 1063-Emergency Services Training Course Application.

 APPLYING FOR TRAINING COURSES:

Please download the current version of the Standard Training Course Application (see below) and destroy all old copies. Course hosts have one week after the schedule is published to submit their course applications after which time, applications will be accepted on a first-come-first-serve basis.

A completed and signed ROSTERS:

Individual course registration confirmations are no longer faxed out to students. Rosters are posted as student registrations are compiled for the particular class, and only after the minimum number of registrations have been received. Rosters are updated periodically as registrations are received, as a course is full, or as the registration deadline has passed. Rosters for each course are posted to: TRAINING SCHEDULE FORMATTING:

Please be sure to have all firefighters and first responders subscribe to The Training Ground eNewsletter to receive advance notice of training opportunities and connect with us via  www.erie.gov/fire, on our Facebook page at: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Erie-County-Emergency-Services/109499386703, and via our Twitter feed: http://twitter.com/ErieCtyFire

Download: 1063-Emergency Services Training Course Application

Download: NYS Fire Academy Training Application.

Download, Print and Post our Web Poster to encourage all firefighters to sign up to receive advance notice of training and other opportunities! If they’re not on this list — they’re really missing out on a lot of good, timely information.

Dear Fire Chief,

The 100 Club of Buffalo is requesting your assistance in selecting candidates to receive our 53rd annual Hero Awards. If your department has an individual in law enforcement, fire or EMS that has performed such an outstanding act, one which can be considered above and beyond the call of duty, please submit a narrative of that act to our office prior to December 8, 2011. You may also fax your nomination to the attention of Frank E. Broderick, Executive Director, 100 Club of Buffalo at 716-932-6490Our Hero Awards Committee will review all submissions and make selections which will subsequently be approved by our Executive Board.  If selected, the honoree and their companion will be our guest at the 100 Club’s annual Hero Awards Dinner being held at The Park Club of Buffalo on February 24, 2012. 

They will receive a small stipend, a 100 Club pin for their uniform and their name will be recorded on our Hero Awards plaque, which is displayed in the 100 Club of Buffalo room at Chef’s Restaurant. 

The 100 Club of Buffalo acknowledges the sacrifices that our emergency responders endure and would appreciate you taking the time to nominate a viable candidate from your agency if they are deserving of this prestigious award.

If you have any questions, please contact Frank E. Broderick at 716-932-6489.

Frank E. Broderick
Executive Director
100 Club ofBuffalo
338 Harris Hill Road, Suite 102
Williamsville, NY 14221(716) 932.6489- Office
(716) 932.6490- Fax
(716) 481.7945- Cell

e-mail: 100clubofbuffalo@gmail.com
website: 100clubbuffalo.org

Visit us on Facebook at:
www.facebook.com/100ClubofBuffalo

On Sunday, August 28, 2011 Emergency Services Staff began polling Erie County Fire Departments for resources to assist the affected Counties. A total of 28 Fire Departments supplying 50 fire department pieces of apparatus were deployed by Emergency Services from August 28th through September 19th.

These deployments also included Fire Department Ambulances and Swift Water Rescue Teams. A total of 187 first responders coordinated by Emergency Services staff on scene spent over 50,000 operational hours helping neighboring fire departments assist residents in communities devastated by the disaster.

The Counties that filed disaster declarations where Erie County Fire Department resources assisted were: Ulster, Schoharie, Broome, and Tioga. Erie County First Responders operational assignments included responding to 911 calls by staffing fire stations using local and Erie County fire apparatus. Calls answered during the deployments included structure fires, hazardous material spills, motor vehicle crashes, swift water rescues, and requests for emergency medical care.

Erie County First Responders also pumped water from residential/business basements, provided tree/household debris removal and delivered water, food and medical supplies to residents and shelters.

The State Office of Emergency Management also requested assistance from the Western District Emergency Management Assistance Team (WDEMT) to support affected County Emergency Operation Centers (EOCs) in both planning and logistics. Erie County sent ICS trained personnel who are part of the WDEMT to assist with those functions both in Orange and Broome Counties.

Emergency Services will be inviting all of the First Responders who were involved in the deployments to an After Action conference to discuss the positives and improvements needed in order to prepare for the next disaster response. Emergency Services would like to express our sincere appreciation to all the Erie County First Responders for their efforts and personal sacrifices endured while assisting Eastern New York Counties’ First Responders and residents in their time of need.

PHOTOS:

• Binghamton Floods
• Schoharie Hurricane Flooding

 Applications are being accepted now. Applications can be downloaded from www.erie.gov/fire. Course descriptions and pre-requisites can be found at: http://www.dos.state.ny.us/fire/residential.html

Please read all of the notes below, download the appropriate documents and share them with your recruits and firefighters. Start submitting standard training course applications and NYS OFPC training authorization forms immediately.

NEW COURSE ANNOUNCEMENTS:

• Twenty-one (21) new courses have been added to the training schedule which can be viewed and downloaded at www.erie.gov/fire.
• Two courses: 1Y11002-EVOC at Depew and 7811002-Pump Operations at South Line are both day shift courses. Please note the 9am start time.
• A 1R-Scene Support Operations Course will be hosted by Boston starting soon. The schedule is being finalized and will appear on an updated schedule soon.

COURSE STATUS:

• 1S11003 Boot Camp2 scheduled to start at the Training & Operations Center has a very limited number of open seats due to cancellations. Please contact the Fire Safety Office immediately for further direction if you have new recruits who can attend this intensive two-week program.
• 0511001 Fire Police at Kenilworth still has openings.
• 3711001 Principles of Fire Investigation at Sheridan Park still has openings.

IMPORTANT NOTES:

As always, we will be adding more courses throughout the fall and winter. Remember, we accept course requests year-round so please confer with the training officers and chiefs in your area about hosting a course near you.

NEW FORM:

A newly revised Training Course Request Form#ECFS-1002 is attached. Please note that the semester schedule has been adjusted to reflect the state’s fiscal year of 4/1-3/31 and the actual flow of the training seasons.

***PLEASE DOWNLOAD AND PRINT THIS REVISED FORM AND RECYCLE ALL OTHER EDITIONS.***

We need your input so as to best fufill the training needs of the fire service in Erie County. Please have the appropriate chief or training officer respond via email or fax to our office with the following information:

• Your Fire Department Name:
• Your Name:
• Your Rank/Title:
• Your contact number and e-mail for follow-up:
• Total New Recruits in Need of Firefighter 1 Training:
  • Of that total number, how many have been waiting for Firefighter 1 training for:
    • * 2 months or less:
    • * 3-6 months:
    • * 6-12 months:
    • * More than 12 months:
• Total Members in Need of Scene Support Operations Training:
• Firefighters wanting to take Firefighter 2:
• Firefighters who previously took Essentials or Basic Firefighter and want to elevate themselves to the Firefighter 1 equivalent via the Firefighter Bridge Course (SEE ATTACHMENT FOR DETAILS):

APPLYING FOR TRAINING COURSES:

Please download the current version of the Standard Training Course Application (see below) and destroy all old copies. Course hosts have one week after the schedule is published to submit their course applications after which time, applications will be accepted on a first-come-first-serve basis.

A completed and signed ROSTERS:

Individual course registration confirmations are no longer faxed out to students. Rosters are posted as student registrations are compiled for the particular class, and only after the minimum number of registrations have been received. Rosters are updated periodically as registrations are received, as a course is full, or as the registration deadline has passed. Rosters for each course are posted to: TRAINING SCHEDULE FORMATTING:

Students confirmed as attending Firefighter 1 courses should download, review, and share the Student Packet with their officers prior to attending orientation. http://www.erie.gov/depts/community/fsd_resources/Firefighter%201%20Student%20Packet.pdf

Be sure to include your e-mail address and cell or other phone number on your application to ensure effective communications as the roster is posted and important course information must be distributed.

APPARATUS OPERATOR COURSES:

Those students registering for an 78-Apparatus Operator-Pump or 79-Apparatus Operator-Aerial Devices should note that pre-requisites include 1Y-Apparatus Operator-EVOC and and at least 1R-Scene Support Operations. An explanation of these pre-requisites is included below.

Students attending 1Y-Apparatus Operator-EVOC courses must bring their own apparatus to the hands-on portion of the class. This is a class for operating Emergency Vehicles under emergency conditions and is not a driving class. Students should already be familiar with the operation of the apparatus they are driving in the course.

FREE SUBSCRIPTION:

Please be sure to have all firefighters and first responders subscribe to The Training Ground eNewsletter to receive advance notice of training opportunities and connect with us via  www.erie.gov/fire, on our Facebook page at: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Erie-County-Emergency-Services/109499386703, and via our Twitter feed: http://twitter.com/ErieCtyFire

Download: 1063-Emergency Services Training Course Application

Download: Course Details-Apparatus Operator

Download: Firefighter 1 Student Packet-090805

Download, Print and Post our Web Poster to encourage all firefighters to sign up to receive advance notice of training and other opportunities! If they’re not on this list — they’re really missing out on a lot of good, timely information.

In anticipation of our releasing the initial Fall fire training schedule tomorrow 8/12/11, please inform your firefighters and training officers to check their email and have their applications at the ready to fax!

Before we let you in on what courses we’re planning, we need your feedback. Please have the appropriate chief or training officer respond via email or fax to our office with the following information:
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
ERIE COUNTY VOLUNTEER FIRE TRAINING NEEDS SURVEY:
Your Fire Department Name:
Your Name:
Your Rank/Title:
Your contact number and e-mail for follow-up:
Total New Recruits in Need of Firefighter 1 Training:
Of that total number, how many have been waiting for Firefighter 1 training for:
* 2 months or less:
* 3-6 months:
* 6-12 months:
* More than 12 months:
Total Members in Need of Scene Support Operations Training:
Firefighters wanting to take Firefighter 2:
Firefighters who previously took Essentials or Basic Firefighter and want to elevate themselves to the Firefighter 1 equivalent via the Firefighter Bridge Course (SEE ATTACHMENT FOR DETAILS):
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Ok, back to the course announcements. Tomorrow’s initial release will include one or more of the following course offerings:

01-Aircraft Rescue & Firefighting
03-Fire Behavior & Arson Awareness
05-Fire Police
1C-Incident Safety Officer
1F-Truck Company Operations
1R-Scene Support Operations
1S-Firefighter I-TRADITIONAL
47-Rescue Technician-Basic
1Y-Apparatus Operator-Emergency Vehicles*
78-Apparatus Operator-Pump
79-Apparatus Operator-Aerial Devices
As always, we will be adding more courses throughout the fall and winter. Remember, we accept course requests year-round so please confer with the training officers and chiefs in your area about hosting a course near you.

IMPORTANT NOTE: A newly revised Training Course Request Form#ECFS-1002 is attached. Please note that the semester schedule has been adjusted to reflect the state’s fiscal year of 4/1-3/31 and the actual flow of the training seasons.

***PLEASE DOWNLOAD AND PRINT THIS REVISED FORM AND RECYCLE ALL OTHER EDITIONS.***

That’s all for now. Watch for the updated training schedule at www.erie.gov/fire and in your inbox tomorrow. See you at The Fair!

Compressed, condensed, intense, fun, exhausting and HOT were the words the student “survivors” used to describe the two-week experience that saw temperatures soar into the high 90s with matching humidity levels.

With the recruits arriving by 7:30am and staying into the evening every day for two straight weeks, the 90+ hour program started on July 11th and culminated with a formal graduation ceremony in the auditorium of the Erie County Emergency Services Training & Operations Center in Cheektowaga on Friday night-July 22nd. More than 100 friends, family and fellow firefighters were in attendance to cheer on the graduates. County Executive Chris Collins and Emergency Services Commissioner Greg Skibitsky were on hand to lend their thoughts of appreciation and congratulations towards the students and Erie County’s instructor team.

Deputy Fire Coordinator Tiger Schmittendorf brought special attention to three students who he identified as “two-hatters” — folks who are serving our country in addition to serving their communities as volunteer firefighters. Blasdell Firefighter Jared Bengert lead the audience in reciting the Pledge of Allegiance sharply dressed in his Army National Guard uniform while East Aurora Firefighter Vince Gravino was acknowledged for his recent retirement from active duty in the US Army. Main-Transit Firefighter Lori Roth, a mother of five, recently enlisted in the US Air Force Reserves and will serve with the 914th Airwing out of Niagara Falls NY.

Snyder Firefighter Mark Niedzielski addressed the audience on behalf of the class, thanking the instructors and fire academy staff, and most importantly: the firefighters families — “Who allow us to do what we love to do.”

Earlier in the week, Retired Buffalo Firefighter and former Union Volunteer Firefighter Mark Reed visited the class to share his life changing experiences with the class, motivating them to always wear their protective gear, train and be at their best. Mark was critically injured when more than 800 lbs. of bricks fell on him while fighting an arson fire in the City of Buffalo. He suffered multiple broken bones, was in a coma for a long period and doctors were forced to amputate one of his legs.

The class received a lot of media attention as the media was invited to “observe and report” on Wednesday-July 20th during the class’s first attack on structure fires under live fire conditions. Special thanks go to Jim Herr I & II from the Erie County Fire Blotter and to Mike Vanderlaan and Bryan Sypniewski from the Erie County Fire Wire for being with the class every day to document and publicize their hard work.

To put the extreme working conditions into perspective, North Amherst’s Chelsea Stoeckl commented, “Let me put it to you this way, I’m 19 years old — and I went to bed at 7:30pm last night,” when interviewed by Sandra Tan from the Buffalo News, adding that the course was a real test of the students’ physical and mental capacity. Her father Don Stoeckl, a retired Buffalo firefighter and a lieutenant with North Amherst, joined the instructors at the front of the room to proudly give his daughter her graduation certificate and a well deserved hug. Several of the graduates are second, third and fourth generation firefighters — “A great family tradition,” as County Executive Collins acknowledged during his comments.

Congratulations to the thirty-five new firefighters and to the great instructor team of: Ron Bourgeois, Mike Lotocki, Mike Kluck, Chris Petrie, Greg Pierce, Rob Sanford, Gary Schurr and Jim Zymanek. Bruce Oliphant, Fire Protection Specialist for the New York State Office of Fire Prevention & Control provided instruction for the Haz/Mat portion of the course.

Special thanks to: Jim McCullough, Deb Howell, Kim Altmann, Chris Schmidt, Brittany Jewitt, Jim Banas, Tom Casey, John Adolf, Dr. Josh Holland from Erie County’s SMART team; and Gateway Recycling. Thanks to all the fire departments, officers and firefighters who supported the class by providing apparatus, equipment and staffing — the class was a huge success.

Graduates can download and print extra copies of the CLASS PHOTO and GRADUATION PROGRAM. A limited number of boot camp graduation t-shirts are available for sale at the Erie County Fire Safety Office.

Erie County Fire Safety will offer a second Boot Camp delivery of Firefighter 1 for the first time, starting September 12th and graduating on September 23, 2011.

Here’s a summary of the media attention that the class captured:

• Erie County Fire Safety Photos on Flickr.com:
  http://www.flickr.com/photos/40216465@N03/sets/72157627052946129/
• Story and photos that made the front page of the Buffalo News on Thursday-July 21: http://www.buffalonews.com/city/article495695.ece
• WIVB-Channel 4: http://www.wivb.com/dpp/news/erie/Trainees-attack-fire-on-sweltering-day?ref=scroller&categoryId=10001&status=true
• YNN:  http://buffalo.ynn.com/content/550587/firefighter-bootcamp/

Continuous coverage:

• Erie County Fire Blotter: http://eriecountyfireblotter.com/?cat=187
• Erie County Fire Wire: http://www.ecfwire.com/boot_camp_2011.html

• EMTB Fall 2011 Offerings
• EMTR Fall 2011 Offerings

Contact the EMS office at 681-6070 should you have any questions or require further information.

Applications are now being accepted for federally-funded “Volunteer Fire Assistance” grants, New York State Department of Environmental Conservation

(DEC) Commissioner Joe Martens announced today. The grants help rural fire departments enhance their wildfire fighting capabilities. The deadline for applications is June 15.

“Fire departments in rural areas are the backbone of fire protection for thousands of New Yorkers,” Commissioner Martens said. “Rural fire departments work with state Forest Rangers to fight wildfires that threaten our natural resources and these grants will help them prepare for the challenge of fighting wildfires.”

The grant program is funded by the U.S. Forest Service and administered by DEC. Last year, the program allocated $466,000, which provided $1,000 grants to 466 fire departments. It is anticipated that the federal funding will be decreased for 2011.

Only expenses directly related to fire suppression efforts are eligible for funding. These include the purchase of portable pumps, portable backpack pumps, hand tools, hoses, light-weight fireproof clothing (Nomex), hard hats, turnout gear, portable radios, generators and dry hydrants.

Expenditures not directly related to firefighting, such as search and rescue, acquisition of land, construction of buildings and facilities, major apparatus purchases and maintenance items are not eligible for funding.

Eligible fire companies include those that serve a single town with a population of 10,000 or less and those that serve multiple communities one of which is a rural town of less than 10,000 residents. Fire companies in towns with a population of 10,000 or more may be eligible if they meet the requirements listed on the application. Fire departments must provide half the cost of the project being funded. All funded projects should be completed by October 31, 2011.

Preference will be given to fire departments that have not received funding in the past five years under the Volunteer Fire Assistance/Rural Community Fire Protection Program.

For applications or further information about the grant program <http://www.dec.ny.gov/regulations/2364.html> you may visit the DEC website, or contact DEC at (518) 402-8839, or write to NYSDEC, Division of Forest Protection, 625 Broadway 8th Floor, Albany, NY, 12233-2560.