Local FIREFIGHTER TRAINING will begin early in 2009. Training dates will be posted here as soon as they are set. Training typically runs on a bi-monthly basis until the fire season begins. See below for further info.

Introduction to Incident Information Class - March 16-20, 2009:

On November 5th, 2008, the ODF announced that S-203, Introduction to Incident Information, will be taught March 16-20, 2009, at Central Oregon Community College's Redmond Campus. I'd sent a message out last month asking for students to attend a proposed S-203 class to be held in southwest Oregon. At that time, I did not know that an S-203 class had been scheduled by COCC. So, if you want to take S-203, your best bet is to sign up for the COCC class.

Registration information is available at http://web.cocc.edu/wfs/, or you can contact Paula Simone, COCC Wildland Fire Coordinator, at (541) 504-2932, or e-mail psimone@cocc.edu. I encourage you to register early since this class typically fills quickly.

Brian Ballou
Fire Prevention Specialist
Oregon Department of Forestry
Southwest Oregon District
Office: (541) 665-0662
bballou@odf.state.or.us

As of May, 2008, CRFD's new Safety Committee has developed a Driving Policy Agreement for those driving our District's Emergency Response vehicles.

This document must be signed by all participating volunteers before they can be permitted to drive our vehicles.  More info below.

 

FIREFIGHTER TRAINING:

ANNUAL TRAINING IS REQUIRED for all volunteers, including new and current or previous volunteers. Contact Steve Avgeris at (541) 488-1768 for details.

The first training of the year covers essential paperwork (sign-ups for those who are new, insurance and other legal forms for all firefighters for this year, personal equipment & tool sign-out inventory, etc.), a review of last season, and an overview of the training program for the season before us.

Trainings will continue until fire season begins, normally on a bi-weekly basis.

ANNUAL TRAINING IS REQUIRED for all volunteers, including new and current or previous volunteers. If you miss the first training meeting, you can still play a part in helping the fire district. You do not have to participate as a first-string firefighter to be part of the crew – we are always in need of auxiliary members for various support functions, which also require training. We are all unpaid volunteers, and community participation is how we survive as a fire district, and how the CRFD continues to offer fire protection and firefighting services.

WHAT: CRFD / Hilt VFD trainings will be held with CDF and Hornbrook VFD whenever possible. Training includes 4 hours of Urban Wildland Interface training, and S130 and S190 Wildland training. It is extremely detailed and required by law. Training also involves some first responder - medical instruction and ICS training presented by CDF.

WHO: All community members are welcome. Notices were sent to all local residents as well as last year's participants date for this year's training. Once training begins, it may not be possible for newcomers to train as a fully qualified firefighter for this season. However, we are always in need of more new people from the community to join in our all-volunteer efforts: as a firefighter, a medical first responder, base station assistant operator, water tender driver, communications liason, backup supplies and/or transportation provider, and many more support functions. Please join us and contribute as you are able to. Those with questions should talk to Steve.

HOW MANY HOURS: All firefighters and first responders must complete a state-mandated minimum number of hours of training prior to being eligible for dispatch on a district call-out. This requirement applies to both new and previous participants, without exception. Only those who begin training on April 5thand attend all trainings before fire season begins will automatically meet this requirement for the upcoming fire season. Missed training hours must therefore be made up (by arrangement with Steve).

Anyone who is already currently qualified by an alternate training program, either professionally or in a volunteer-based department, should discuss this with Steve Avgeris, to determine his/her status relative to CRFD training needs.

WHEN: Training sessions will run through May (unless we go into fire season sooner). Training dates are normally held every other Saturday from 6 to 8 pm at the Community Church building in Hilt, unless otherwise announced.

About Firefighters and Training:

PLEASE NOTE: Only trained firefighters will be allowed to work with the CRFD on the firelines. Those who show up to fight a fire but are not trained, certified firefighters and/or have not participated in CRFD's current firefighter training program will be asked to leave. We hope to have everyone's understanding and cooperation on this.

All of our current firefighters are covered by mandatory insurance. Our insurance does not cover anyone who is not a CRFD-trained firefighter. There are other safety liability issues as well. If you want to be one of our firefighters, make it a point to join and attend training.

 

 

As of May, 2008, CRFD's new Safety Committee has developed a Driving Policy Agreement for those driving our District's Emergency Response vehicles.

This document must be signed by all participating volunteers before they can be permitted to drive our vehicles.

You can view and print a copy of this Agreement  (PDF format, 2 pages).

A non-PDF (scanned) version is viewable here, as follows:

 

 

 

During the 2005 Firefighting Training - Photo taken Sat. February 19th, 2005
Fire Chief Steve Avgeris, foreground