Chief outlines firefighter training: entry-level hours, EMT and medic school

During commissioner comments, Chair Santos asked about firefighter training, and Chief Pyle provided a detailed overview of entry-level and continued education for fire personnel.

Chief Pyle said entry-level firefighters must complete Firefighter I and II certification "which is right about 300 hours of classroom and skills together," and EMT-Basic training of "another hundred and 50 hours," meaning "there's somewhere in the area of 450 hours of class to to just take the test." He added that the medic school is run through an affiliated hospital program on duty days and can take about 15 months; "that class is about, 1100 hours," including clinical rotations in cardiac, OB, trauma and pediatrics.

He described additional continuing education and promotion pathways such as fire inspector and fire instructor training and noted the department's emphasis on preparing firefighters for supervisory roles when promoted.