Carlin, NV – The University of Nevada, Reno Fire Science Academy has been awarded $2.5 million for the second consecutive year to continue its training course for municipal and rural firefighters on terrorism-related emergencies.
The U.S. Department of Energy grant will support the academy’s 2005-2006 training classes which teach urban and rural firefighters skills that can help them successfully respond to incidents associated with terrorist threats. The grant provides scholarships covering tuition, travel, lodging and meals for the four-day program.
“More than 700 firefighters across the country will participate in our program this year,” said Denise Baclawski, executive director of the University’s Fire Science Academy. “We have already had 290 students participate with this year’s grant, and we’ve received a total of 1,500 applications from all 50 states.”
The core module of the program covers methods for dealing with flammable-liquid fires, sabotage and damage to “soft targets,” including truck and rail terminals, pipeline transfer stations and other industrial facilities. This portion includes live-fire training exercises.
In addition to the live-fire training, the program includes a module of classroom sessions in the social and behavioral sciences which explore the history of terrorism, psychology issues related to a terrorist attack and the philosophy of extremists. This section is taught by University faculty members.
Enrollment in the course, “Responding to Terrorist Incidents in Your Community: Flammable-Liquid Fire Fighting Techniques for Municipal and Rural Firefighters,” at the University of Nevada, Reno Fire Science Academy is by application only and is open to all U.S. firefighters 18 years and older with National Fire Protection Association 1001, Firefighter Level I or equivalent and two years of practical experience.
For more information about training programs offered by the academy, contact the University of Nevada, Reno Fire Science Academy, (775) 754-6003, (800) 233-8928, fireacademy@unr.edu, or visit http://www.fireacademy.unr.edu.
