Recommended Best Practices for Fire Department Training Programs

At the request of the Department of Labor, the New York State Association of Fire Chiefs joined together with the Firemen’s Association of the State of New York, Association of Fire Districts of the State of New York, County Fire Coordinators’ Association of the State of New York, and the New York State Office of Fire Prevention and Control to develop a new document defining the best practices for training and job performance standards for firefighters, fire chiefs, apparatus operators, and fire instructors.

Over a period of several months, the groups worked diligently to develop these standards. They are not state mandates, but rather recommended levels of training and knowledge for all fire service leaders. The best practices document is intended to demonstrate that the levels of knowledge do not have to come from specific classes or schools, such as OFPC classes, but can be obtained from various sources, such as NYSAFC training programs, company drills, and work experience. However, the person or department must be able to demonstrate and document the training.

The fire service, both career and volunteer, has become much more professionalized and we all have two goals in mind – to protect the public and make sure everyone goes home at the end of the day. The best practices are intended to ensure that we meet those goals.

Click here to download the "Recommended Best Practices for Fire Department Training Programs" document and the "Firefighter Annual Refresher Training Guidance" document with information for compliance with pertinent OSHA Standards as required in the New York State Public Employee Safety and Health Act, along with further information from Director Eileen Franko, Division of Health and Safety, New York State Department of Labor.