| The NVFC white paper focuses on the need for proper training of firefighters |
The NVFC has released a white paper concerning training in the volunteer fire service and the need for improvement.
The National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC) is committed to ensuring that volunteer firefighters have an appropriate level of training to safely and effectively carry out their responsibilities.
The roles and responsibilities of the fire service have evolved over the years. As the breadth and scope of what it means to be a firefighter has expanded, the necessity for training within the fire service has grown. Unfortunately, a large number of volunteer fire departments are still operating with personnel who are not trained to a level consistent with national consensus standards for basic firefighter preparedness. This can lead to ineffective and unsafe responses that put lives and property at risk.
Proper training directly affects the health and safety of our nation's emergency responders. At its fall meeting in 2008, the NVFC Board of Directors adopted a policy statement that recommends all volunteer fire departments in the United States set a goal that personnel must attain, at a minimum, a level of training that meets NFPA 1001: Standard for Fire Fighter Professional Qualifications or an equivalent state standard in order to engage in fire suppression.
The NVFC white paper focuses on the need for proper training to ensure the safety and effectiveness of firefighters and also examines several barriers to implementing basic training in volunteer fire departments. These barriers include lack of resources, lack of convenient training options for volunteers, and a lack of emphasis on training from leadership within fire departments.