Safety & Professional Development

This division is charged with managing the department's overall safety and risk management programs, personnel development and industry-standard fire training functions. Safety & Professional Development includes an operations engine company; an advisory committee made up of line personnel and administrative captains; and most importantly the more than 20 instructors from the ranks of line personnel that lead training classes.

Training Program Management

The primary responsibility for Safety & Professional Development is managing a safe and effective training program for the firefighters and staff of Fire Rescue.

The following are training programs that are managed by the division:

• Driver Operator Program
• Rapid Intervention/Firefighter Rescue Program
• Respiratory Protection Program
• Instructor Development Program
  • Program Instructors
  • Live Fire Instructors
• Incident Safety Officer and Company Officer Development Program
• Manage the department Training Facility

Safety and Professional Development's training program is developed in accordance with established federal, state, and local requirements as well as the ISO Fire Suppression Rating Schedule and National Fire Protection Association.

Coverage Company

Engine Company Eight, known as the Coverage Company, reports to the Safety & Professional Development Division and is housed at the Training Center.

• The name comes from the function it provides to the fire stations.
• The Coverage Company provides "coverage" at the fire stations during the daytime hours to help maintain coverage of the island and allows the on-duty crews to utilize the training center while limiting gaps in the response coverage.
• This crew cross-staffs a fire engine and ambulance with a three-person crew consisting of a Company Officer, Fire Apparatus Operator and a firefighter paramedic.
• The crew works a 40-hour week during the daytime hours of 7 am - 5 pm, because these hours are the busiest.
• The Coverage Company coordinates and provides new firefighter orientation training which is completed before the new firefighters report to their assigned shift.