CAYUGA COUNTY

Emergency Management Office

FIRE EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT EMS

160 GENESEE STREET

AUBURN NY 13021

VOICE (315) 255-1161<> FAX: (315) 253-1551

EMAIL: ccoes@co.cayuga.ny.us<>WEBSITE: http://co.cayuga.ny.us/ccemo/

Brian Dahl, Director Of Emergency Services

Margaret Mach, Administrative Officer For Emergency Medical Services

Andrea LaBaron, Administrative Officer for Fire

June 8, 2007

Dear Chiefs:

New York State Fire Instructors have brought some concerns to my attention regarding Fire Training Courses. It is apparent that student(s) do not come prepared to class. Examples of this are:

No OSHA Physical.

No fit test for the SCBA Mask

Incomplete “PPE” (Personal Protective Equipment) including Hood, Gloves, Helmet, Coat, Bunker Pants and Boots.

SCBA not working, or pieces and parts missing. Tanks ½ Full.

Inappropriate attire, i.e.: flip flops, tube tops, etc.

THIS IS NOT ACCEPTABLE.

None of the above will be tolerated in any future classes. Students will conduct themselves as if they were attending class at the New York State Fire Academy.

The New York State Office of Fire Prevention and Control has a policy that all Fire Fighter 1 classes have a pre meeting to review the rules for participation in the class. A Chief from the student’s department must attend the pre meeting with their student.

No exceptions.

It is mandatory that students taking a New York State class have the appropriate OSHA Physical. If your member shows up to the first day of class without a required OSHA Physical, the student will be dropped from the class.

No exceptions.

It is your responsibility to assure that the SCBA Mask fit the student prior to the first night of class. The SCBA must be working and fully functional; tanks must be within hydro and FULL of Air.

The students must have ALL OSHA Approved Full PPE. They must bring it to every class. Students will be sent back to their respective department(s) to get the required PPE.

Starting April 01, 2007, New York State Office of Fire Prevention and Control changed from the IFSTA Fire Fighter 1 Manual to the Thomson Delmar Learning Book. In the past, Cayuga County Emergency Management Office supplied the book for the Students. This practice has stopped and you can purchase the book from the NYS Fire Academy Student/Faculty Book Store @ (800) 758-1818 or their web site, http://www.fireacademyfsa.com/bookstore.html.

Your Department may find it easier to purchase 4-6 manuals to alleviate any scrambling trying to get books at the last minute.

Appropriate attire will be required for all classes.

If a student misses a class or an assignment, the class and the assignment must be made up. No certification will be issued until all requirements of the class are met.

With Fire Chiefs and Training Officials being prosecuted and sent to prison for errors and/or neglect, neither Cayuga County nor New York State will subject themselves to these liabilities. There are rules that need to be followed and it is in the best interest of the Department Chiefs to assure that they are followed.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact our office. We are committed to making sure all of your personnel receive the required training as per New York State guidelines.

Thank you,

Brian P. Dahl

Director of Emergency Services

Cayuga County Emergency Management

# # #