Va. Volunteers Are Absent For Required Training
Source The Free Lance-Star, Fredericksburg, Va.
Nov. 11--The clock is ticking, but volunteer first responders in Spotsylvania County don't seem to be in a rush to meet a looming training deadline.
With little more than a year to meet minimum training standards, some 377 volunteer firefighters and rescue workers still need basic courses.
And yet the county's free training classes still have empty seats.
Four times since August, training officials have had to cancel courses because so few volunteers signed up.
"We're offering quality training here, and for some reason people aren't signing up," said Division Chief Jeff Bailey, who oversees training for all Spotsylvania rescue workers.
Last year, the Spotsylvania Board of Supervisors adopted minimum training standards, requiring every county firefighter and rescue worker to complete basic training courses by Jan. 1, 2013.
Some volunteers initially balked at the training standards, saying the timeline was too strict. Others speculated that the new requirements were the county's way of getting rid of volunteers.
At Wednesday night's Fire and Emergency Medical Services Commission meeting, Bailey told members that he was disappointed by low attendance at training sessions.
"I'll stop short of saying that people are discouraging training," Bailey said. "But I'm not sure some of the people in leadership roles are doing all they can to promote training."
Mark Kuechler, president of the Spotsylvania Volunteer Fire Department, said the training standards need to take into consideration the experience of volunteers who've been fighting fires for decades, but who might not have the certification required. Volunteers want the county to establish a set of "equivalencies" that would take the place of certified training for veteran responders.
"We continue to skirt this issue," Kuechler said. "We've got plenty of firefighters with 20 to 30 years of experience who are part of these numbers showing they need classes."
But Deputy Chief Monty Willaford said there has been enough discussion about equivalencies. He said that most of the minimum training standards come from the Virginia Department of Fire Programs, which has had a certification program since 1979.
"I'm not talking last year; I'm not talking five years; I'm not talking 10 years," Willaford said. "The Board of Supervisors approved minimum training standards. They're not equivalents, they are certifications."
He added that the county's standards fall in line with the National Fire Protection Association certifications, which are used by fire departments throughout the country.
"This is not something we've gone out on a limb on," Willaford said. "This is a routine requirement in many departments. This is nothing new."
Willaford said that many county volunteers are trained, as evidenced by a Tuesday night fire where volunteers made a "flawless response."
Having a minimum standard isn't a way to demean volunteers, Willaford said. Instead, the requirements speak to the important work volunteers do.
"They are on the front line every night," Willaford said. "And that's why it's so very important that they are properly trained, because they are not support staff they are the first line of defense when your house is on fire."
Amy Flowers Umble: 540/735-1973
Email: [email protected]
