If adopted, the standards would become administrative rules of the Iowa Department of Public Safety, Kenkel said.
The rules would require that firefighters undergo a basic course of training before fighting structure fires or fighting fires in hazardous situations.
Randy Novak, chief of the Fire Service Training Bureau, said few states have mandatory training standards. Several others, including Iowa, have recommended standards, he said.
``I think the intent is to have a higher level of firefighter safety,'' Novak said of mandatory training standards. ``We're just ensuring that people can do their job.''
He said there is a concern that many departments aren't conducting the level of training necessary for firefighters to safety perform their job.
``This will move them along in doing the training that necessary to do this level of service,'' Novak said.
Kenkel's proposal follows a recommendation by the State Fire Service and Emergency Response Council.
Ames Fire Chief Clint Petersen, the council's chairman, was out of the office Tuesday afternoon and couldn't be reached for comment.
Two public hearings on the new rules will be held. The first is scheduled for 10 a.m. Aug. 5, at the Fire Service Training Bureau in Ames. The second will be broadcast to 15 community college sites around the state on the Iowa Communications Network from 6-8 p.m. Aug. 9.
