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Welcome to the Fire, Training & Safety Officers, Leaders in Training, Education and Safety.  

Our Purpose:

  • To promote uniform training practices throughout the state of Washington.
  • To upgrade fire department training and training personnel within the fire departments of Washington State.
  • To make available technical information and guidance to the members of this Section.
  • To promote training programs for Training, Safety & Officers’.
  • To exchange information and training aids.
  • To promote and assist in the development of fire service performance standards.
  • To promote safety practices in all phases of fire department activities.
  • To actively seek uniformity in all fire service and fire related college curriculum.
  • To upgrade fire officer leadership and management skills and knowledge within the fire departments of Washington State.
  • To identify and make available technical information and guidance to the members of this section.
  • To advocate and support networking between fire officers in Washington State.
  • To promote and assist in the development of fire service leadership standards.

FIRE TRAINING, SAFETY & OFFICERS SECTION RECENT NEWS

Posted: Jul 15, 2013

An Inside Job

In our line of work we see and experience events that can be labeled horrific and traumatizing.  Sometime we go on these calls three times in a shift, and other times the events are spread out over weeks or months.  But one thing remains, and that is the memory and experiences that we were exposed to on these scenes.  These events stay with most of us for a very long time.  And sometimes these memories come back and remind us of the hard issues we have seen and are actively trying to suppress.

Most of us have developed a “coping mechanism” to be able to deal with these events at the immediate moment they are happening.  After the events have past and the incident is over, we suppress or compartmentalize the emotions that we experienced.  And we tell ourselves, and sometimes we tell others, that this is a necessary trait in order to maintain an ongoing presence in this profession.  But what happens when you can’t compartmentalize these events or the box just becomes too full to hold any more memories?  What happens when your body and mind tell you that you are human and that you are impacted by trauma and horror?  Where do you turn?

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Posted: Jun 13, 2013

Train to Change or Tragedy to Change

Why do we train? All training is designed to deliver two things. The first reason is to reinforce good behaviors. Second is to effect or to cause change, to improve an individual. In order for change to take place an individual; that means you and me, needs to make a decision for change and commit to improvement on a personal level. Change must come from within. While we read, listen, and practice our crafts, we must actively strive for personal improvement; not just go through the motions...

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FIRE TRAINING, SAFETY & OFFICERS SECTION BOARD

Chair
Jake Fouts
City of Snoqualmie Fire Department

Vice Chair
Kurt Stich
Cowlitz 2 Fire & Rescue

Secretary
Zakary McDougall 

Raymond Fire Department

Board Member
Sidney Ayala
West Benton Fire Rescue

Board Member
Andy McAfee
Central Pierce Fire and Rescue

Board Member
Mike Lant
WSP – FPB-FTA

Board Member
Dustin Armitage
Chelan County Fire District 1

Board Member
Raymond Lamoureux
Pullman Fire Department

Board Member
Ted Vander Houwen

Yakima Fire Department

Board Member
Max Hollander
Central Mason Fire & EMS

Board Member
Al Torres
Chelan Fire District 1

Alternate Board Member
Woody Juarez
Central Pierce Fire & Rescue

Board Liaison
Tony Miller 
Yakima County EMS