Upper Leacock Fire Company SOG's

Section 15    Fire Company Training Guideline
 

1.    Fire Company Members are encouraged to participate during in house training exercises, which are held at the Upper Leacock Fire Company every Tuesday Night between the hours of 7pm - 9pm.

2.    In house training exercises cover such topics as but not limited to;

 Engine Company and Air Truck operations

• Essentials of Firefighting
• Vehicle Rescue operations
• Fire Company policy and procedures

3.    The Fire Chief SHALL appoint a Line Officer to serve as the Fire Company Training Officer by Jan. 1 of every new calendar year. The training officer will coordinate ALL in house training exercises and is responsible for submitting registrations for all other training courses that are offered to our Members.

4.    All Fire Company Members are REQUIRED to sign the training log upon their completion of any Tuesday Night in house training exercise. It is the responsibility of the Fire Company Training Officer to see that this training log is organized and kept up to date at all times.

5.    The Training Officer or Officer in Charge is Required to leave notification on the marker board in the engine bay anytime that a Tuesday Night training exercise is being conducted at a different location other then the Upper Leacock Fire Company. The new location should be listed on the board, so members that arrive after 7pm know where the training exercise is being held.

6.    The Training Officer SHALL work closely with the Fire Company Chief Officers in establishing a training program and training schedule each month. The training schedule SHALL be posted on the bulletin board in the engine bay each month. The Deputy Chief shall also post all approved out of station training courses along with the sign up sheets and registration information.

7.    Turnout Gear SHALL be worn at all times during Tuesday Night in house training exercises UNLESS instructed otherwise by the Training Officer or Officer in Charge.

8.    NO HORSEPLAY WILL BE TOLERATED DURING TUESDAY NIGHT IN HOUSE TRAINING EXERCISES.

9.    Fire Company Members are encouraged to participate in other out of station training courses that are sponsored by zone 3, Lancaster County Fireman's Association, or any other organization in Pennsylvania or out of state. All training other then in house training exercises must be approved by the Fire Chief prior to being posted on the bulletin board for members to participate.

10.    The Upper Leacock Fire Company will make every effort to see that Members do not have to pay out of their own expense for tuition fees assessed for out of station training courses provided that funds are available.

11.    Fire Company Members are required to get approval at a monthly Fire Company business meeting anytime they wish to attend a training course in which the tuition is greater then $100 per person UNLESS other funding is available through third party billing money, grants, etc.

12.    Upper Leacock Fire Company WILL NOT pay for food, lodging, fuel, or mileage anytime a Fire Company Member attends a training course outside of Lancaster County UNLESS approval was given at a monthly Fire Company business meeting to pay those expenses.

13.    Fire Company Members are REQUIRED to reimburse the Upper Leacock Fire Company for tuition fees with in 30 days if they fail to attend a training course that they signed up for UNLESS they qualify for one of the exemptions listed below and have been excused by the Fire Chief.

• Death of a family member or close friend
• Sickness, illness, or injury provided there is a Doctor's excuse.
• The dates of the course were changed after you had already enrolled in the course.
• You find a replacement Member to attend the course filling your vacancy
• An unscheduled work shift at the Member's place of employment provided the Fire Chief is given written notification from your employer on business letterhead that the Member completed a work shift during the training event.
• Any other REASONABLE situation that places hardship on the Fire Company Member to attend the course in which the Fire Chief has approved.

14.    Any Fire Company Member that signed up for any training course and is unable to attend for any reason is REQUIRED to notify the Training Officer, Deputy Chief, and Sponsor of the course prior to the starting date of the training course.

15.    Members that are continuously fail to attend outside training that they sign up for or any Fire Company Member violating any portion of this policy MAY BE REQUIRED by the Fire Chief to prepay tuition fees in the future for training courses out of their own expense, which will be reimbursed by the Fire Company with in 30 days of successful completion of the training course. Inappropriate conduct of any Fire Company member during ANY type of in house or out of station training, while acting as a representative of the Upper Leacock Fire Company is subject to POSSIBLE disciplinary action.

16.    ALL newly excepted Fire Company Members are put on a probation status for purposes of fire ground operations, which is separate from the one-year membership probationary period outlined in the Fire Company By-laws. ALL new Members will display a yellow stripe on their helmet as a symbol of there probationary status. The Training Officer will monitor probationary Members closely during training exercises. Probationary Members will also be paired up with an experienced Fire Company Member who will serve as a helper and mentor to the new Member. The probationary period varies from each Member depending on the following circumstances;

• Past experience
• Attendance
• Certifications
• And individual performance during training exercises and fire ground operations.

17.    ALL probationary Members are REQUIRED to successfully complete all skills outlined on the Probationary Qualification Checklist. Probationary Members are NOT automatically considered to be off probation when they have successfully completed the Probation Qualification Checklist. The Training Officer is REQUIRED to keep the master copy of each Probationary Members Qualification Checklist and submit it to the Deputy Chief upon its completion, so it can be stored in the personnel file.

18.    The Fire Company Training Officer and Deputy Chief will periodically evaluate each Members probationary status and make recommendations toe the Fire Chief, so that he can make the decision when a Member is taken off their probationary status for fire ground purposes.

19.    Fire Company Members are encouraged to provide training suggestions to the Fire Company Training Officer at any time and are encouraged to volunteer their services and time to assist the Training Officer during Tuesday Night in house training exercises.

20.    Fire Company owned turnout gear, equipment, and apparatus MAY be used for out of station training with in Lancaster County provided that the Fire Chief has given approval. Fire Company owned turnout gear, equipment, and apparatus may be taken outside of Lancaster County for training PROVIDED that the Fire Chief and General Membership give their approval at a monthly Fire Company business meeting.

21.    Any Fire Company Member receiving a certificate for attending a training course is REQUIRED to make a copy of each training certificate and place it in the Deputy Chief's mailbox. It shall be the responsibility of the Deputy Chief to see that all copies of training certificates are filed and kept organized in the personnel file cabinet.

22.    Any new applicant applying for membership to the Upper Leacock Fire Company SHALL submit copies of any administrative firefighting, and medical certificates the received in the past of training courses they attended. These copies SHALL be submitted along with their application for membership.

23.    It is the responsibility of any Fire Company Member to notify the Training Officer or Officer in Charge in the event that the Fire Company Member suffers from physical disability, injury, or any other condition that hinders their ability to perform certain tasks during a training exercise.

24.    No Fire Company Member is permitted to leave during any in house training exercises until the Training Officer or Chief Officer give you permission UNLESS an emergency situation arises or you had prior permission to leave. You are also REQUIRED to notify any instructor prior to the start of a training course if you intend to leave early during an out of station training course.

25.    No Fire Company Member is permitted to hook up and flow water from any fire hydrant in Upper Leacock Township during a training exercise UNLESS you had prior approval from the Upper Leacock Township Board of Supervisors.

26.    No Fire Company Member Is permitted to close a public roadway in Upper Leacock Township for training purposes UNLESS prior approval was given by the Upper Leacock Township Board of Supervisors.

27.    Fire Police SHOULD be used for traffic control anytime that our Fire Company apparatus is parked and partially blocking traffic on a public roadway during a training exercise.

28.    No Fire Company Member is permitted to conduct a live burn during a training exercise in Upper Leacock Township UNLESS the Upper Leacock Township Board of Supervisors gave prior approval or the live burn involves a small controlled fire in burn barrels or pits during fire extinguisher training.

29.    The Upper Leacock Fire Company should adhere to all local, state and federal restriction or mandates concerning training during certain circumstances such as but not limited to drought conditions.

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Page last edited: 03/12/06

© Upper Leacock Fire Company 2003