1/30/1985 (2) - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

could be a required part of volunteer fire service, but this is not mandated by the State. Chairman Bowman believed what the Board would like to know is how many qualified firemen each fire company has. Ralph Arand, Sebastian Fire Chief, noted that certified and trained are two different things, and he believed probably very few are certified. He stated that he personally is a professional firefighter at the Cape, and his station has a number of retired firemen. Chief Arand noted that they have had training courses for their own individual training, and he did not believe any man at any station is sent into a fire without any training. Commissioner Scurlock inquired about the number of hours the training consists of, and Chief Arand stated that there is some on-the-job training; there are stand-by observers when there is a fire; and they have some training every Tuesday night. He noted that some courses are offered through the Community College and the Fire College in Ocala. Mr. Fletcher asked how many in the Sebastian Department have been through the 200 hour course at the Indian River College, and Chief Arand believed possibly four out of twenty-five. Norbert Resop, Roseland Fire Chief, reported that out of the nineteen or twenty volunteers in their department, they have one retired fireman from up north; no one has had the full 200 hours, but several did take the 40 hour courseand the Division of Forestry course. Ivan McGhee, Fellsmere Fire Chief, reported one certified out of twenty-two volunteers. Howard Marcley, Vero Lakes Estates Fire Chief, stated that none of their volunteers are certified; they haven't been able to get into the college yet because they just got into the budget. They have 28 men and four took the 60 hour course. He noted that they do their own training on Saturdays and Sundays, but they only have one truck to train on. 5 JAN 3 0 1985 BOOK 9 FAU-C 723