Summer Essentials Program

By THOMAS J. GARRITY

The Montgomery County (PA) Fire Academy (MCFA) regularly partners with Montgomery County Community College (MCCC) and the Montgomery County EMS Training Institute to train volunteer firefighters. Most of this training occurs on evenings and weekends seven days a week to accommodate the volunteers’ careers. However, the world is changing, and the fire service needs to adapt. After assessing our customer’s needs with the advice of the MCFA advisory board, Ed O’Hanlon, the fire program coordinator, convinced me (as the deputy director of the fire programs) that a summer daytime program was needed. O’Hanlon designed the Summer Essentials Program to offer four courses that comprise the 168 consecutive hours of required training in the Pennsylvania Entry Level Firefighter curriculum during the day and over a five-week period.

It is getting increasingly difficult to recruit and train volunteer firefighters because of the training commitment and, as a result, the number of volunteer firefighters in Pennsylvania is declining. More than one Montgomery County chief believes that it is best if you can train firefighters early, before they have taken on the responsibilities of a career and a family. The program’s goal is to offer fire training in a format that allows college students to train as firefighters during their summer break. However, training firefighters during the summer in Southeastern Pennsylvania would not be without its challenges.

INSTRUCTORS

Considering that MCFA instructors are all part-time, O’Hanlon thought it would be challenging to find qualified instructors to teach during the day. He was pleasantly surprised to find that, when asked, our instructors rose to the challenge. Some of our more experienced instructors are retired or had sufficient vacation leave so they could take time off from work to teach. Some of our newer instructors were suffering the effects of the depressed economy, were between jobs, and found that the opportunity to teach during the day provided a welcome break to their employment search.

COMMITMENT

I addressed the class on the first day. The first issue discussed was the MCFA’s new policy that requires all students enrolled in any class or curriculum that includes a live burn to comply with the Pennsylvania State Fire Academy’s facial hair policy from the first day of training; students cannot have facial hair in the area where the self-contained breathing apparatus seals to the face. This policy permits a trimmed moustache but not a beard or goatee. Several students, home from college, were already growing beards and goatees and were somewhat surprised when they were told they had one day to comply with the facial hair policy. The next day, all were in compliance. Only one other reminder was needed during the next six weeks. It was also made very clear in the condensed training format that students would have to study hard to succeed, that lateness would not be tolerated, and that attendance at all classes was mandatory.

(1) Firefighters practice advancing a 1¾-inch hoseline into the burn building. (Photos by author.)

Lateness and absenteeism were not problems, but after students received their grades for their first examination, they realized that this program would require a lot of reading, outlining, and practice. Students formed study groups and worked hard preparing for both the written and practical examinations.

SPACE

Another challenge for the program was finding space to train during the day. Originally, the Montgomery County Public Safety Training Campus (MCPSTC) functioned as the MCFA. Today, police, fire, and EMS train at this world-class facility. MCCC offers evening fire science classes during the fall and spring semesters at the MCPSTC.

To accommodate the Summer Essentials Program, O’Hanlon enlisted the assistance of the deputy director’s administrative assistant (who schedules rooms and equipment) and rearranged room assignments and training ground schedules to obtain the classrooms and the training ground space needed to accommodate this program.

HEAT

Anyone who has ever gone through fire training during the summer understands that hot weather and structural fire gear are not a welcome combination. Southeastern Pennsylvania weather during July is usually hazy, hot, and humid. Although haze was not a problem during the Summer Essentials Program, the weather was hot and humid. Students were constantly reminded about hydrating prior to outside activity. During the days that involved live fire training, instructors and students were required to arrive at 6:30 a.m.; training started at 7:00 a.m. to avoid peak summer heat. During outside training evolutions that did not include live fire, the instructors permitted students to train without their bunker coats when the heat became an issue.

LESSONS LEARNED

Don’t underestimate the desire to serve and achieve. These students, comprised primarily of young adults, were diligent in their attendance and studies. They gave up six weeks of their summer and shaved their beards and goatees to train as firefighters. Two class members worked the second shift. They attended class and then went to work. Another student attended evening basic vehicle rescue class while in the Summer Essentials Program. All managed to successfully complete their training.

(2) Instructors review forcible entry hand tools.

Our instructors used vacation leave to instruct, and several spent time after class and during breaks to reinforce a learning objective. In conversations with our students and on the MCCC course evaluations, students commented on our instructors’ experience, knowledge, and commitment. For most instructors, these courses meant a net loss in terms of income, time off, or both. We weren’t certain we would be able to recruit a sufficient number of qualified instructors, but we asked, and they responded, even if it meant a sacrifice on their part.

3) An EMT takes the vital signs of a student prior to starting live-fire training.

Appearance is important. We do not have a uniform requirement for fire training at the MCFA. Students are asked to dress “business casual.” However, since most fire training occurs on evenings and weekends and because much of the training requires hands-on activity, firefighters tend to dress very casually. On the first day of class, we asked the students to either wear their station uniforms or dress business casual. Many responded, but for some, the concept of “business casual” remained elusive. During the day, most of the trainees at the MCPSTC are public safety professionals. Many of the firefighters attended class as if they were still on campus and, compared to others—such as police officers, police cadets, and EMT class students—their appearance paled. Next summer, we will most likely require some form of mandatory uniform for students attending the Summer Essentials Program.

Summer heat and fitness. It appeared that students listened to their instructors who warned about proper hydration. We had no serious injuries, and only two students suffered heat exhaustion. The students who had the most problem with the heat were students who were the least fit. It should be no surprise to anyone that a fit firefighter can better handle the challenge of summer firefighter training. Next year, we intend to make it clear to all applicants that they had better get into good physical shape before attending summer training.

Daytime training attracted more than college students. We intended the Summer Essentials Program for college students, but we quickly learned that this training schedule appealed to others as well. Two members of the class worked second shift and, after attending class, went right to work. Another student who worked third shift arrived at class after working all night. This was quite a commitment to fire training; all three members stated that this schedule was the only way that they could have completed the training. This may be an added bonus for fire companies because these firefighters will be available during the day when fewer volunteer firefighters are available to respond to a call.

On June 6, 2011, 22 students started the first class of the Summer Essentials Program, Introduction to the Fire Service. Since the Pennsylvania Entry Level Firefighter curriculum is comprised of four stand-alone classes, other students who had completed one or more of the classes previously joined the program; only one member of the original group failed to complete the program. On July 12, 2011, the group completed the live burn required for the final class, Interior Firefighter. The next day, most of the Summer Essentials class tested for Firefighter I certification. On July 29, 38 new firefighters from 26 fire companies and three Southeastern Pennsylvania counties graduated from the MCFA. A ceremony held in the MCPSTC auditorium for the graduates celebrated their accomplishments. These firefighters completed the MCFA’s first ever Summer Essentials Program.

THOMAS J. GARRITY is the deputy director of fire programs for Montgomery County, Pennsylvania. He retired as a deputy chief from the Philadelphia (PA) Fire Department in 2010 after 36 years of service. Garrity has a master’s of science in public safety administration from St. Joseph’s University and is a graduate of the Executive Fire Officer Program. He is also the part-time coordinator of the Fire Science and Public Safety Administration Program at Holy Family University and the part-time director of the Fire Science Program at Community College of Philadelphia.