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National Fire Academy Meeting to Research National Maritime Firefighting Curriculum
By frhayes | January 8, 2009
On Tuesday, January 6, 2008 the Long Beach Fire Department (LBFD) hosted a meeting at Fire Headquarters that was attended by representatives from the National Fire Academy (NFA), high-ranking members from the Los Angeles City (LAFD), Los Angeles County Fire Departments (LACOFD), Coast Guard, and our Chief Officers.
This event was conducted based on a Federal Regulation introduced by the Sanchez Sisters and subsequently passed to research the need for the formulation of a national fire maritime incident management curriculum. Representatives from each agency delivered a presentation on their needs assessment, the challenges that they faced, what type of training is currently being delivered, and what their vision is of how to develop a national program.
The representatives from the National Fire Academy tasked with assisting with the development of the curriculum were impressed with our current capabilities and stated that “they did not know how we could handle such a large responsibility and that with all of the knowledge and experience represented from each agency, that the location and the departments surrounding the LA/LB ports would be the best area in which to develop the program”.
The days events included the initial presentations from each agency followed by a tour of both ports by “Air” compliments of LAFD’s Black Hawk helicopter, specific areas of responsibility were highlighted during this activity. The helicopter landed at LAFD’s boat station in their port where lunch was served. LAFD’s new fire boat #2 then transported participants through their port with a transfer to LBFD’s boat 15 for a tour of our port, our new dive rig was demonstrated with a tour of the new Port Security building finishing the days activities.
All of the presentations from each agency (including the LBFD COCEP Marine Response material) along with pictures from each port, and pictures of some of the resources from each agency were sent back with the NFA representatives. This information along with the briefing that they will deliver to other high ranking officials, and their colleagues, will undoubtedly stimulate conversations, and the possible formulation of the National Fire Maritime Incident Management Curriculum through the joint efforts of individuals from the Long Beach/Los Angeles area.
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