Kingston Officers Graduate from National Fire Academy

Two Officers from the Kingston Volunteer Fire Company #1 recently graduated from incident management courses at the National Fire Academy (NFA) in Emmitsburg, Maryland.

 Captain Walter Lane completed the Command & Control of Incident Operations course in February of this year. In this six-day course, fire officers review the Incident Command System and they study proper fire command techniques for control and extinguishment of fires ranging from small, residential structures to multi-occupancy, commercial complexes.

Topics covered include problem-solving and fire command, interagency and mutual aid incident management, size up and strategy, tactics and action plans, truck company operations, engine company operations, building construction and fire behavior, pre-incident preparation, incident organization, and strategic command.

Special emphasis is placed on firefighter safety.  Capt. Lane is a 9-year veteran of the fire company and a previous graduate of several of NFA courses. He has a bachelor’s degree in Environmental Policy from Rutgers University.

Chief Lloyd Mathis completed the Command & Control of Fire Department Operations at Target Hazards course in April of this year. This six-day course is designed to introduce command officers to the complexities involved in commanding incidents in high-risk areas. Students are confronted with a number of fire and rescue incidents that include high life hazard, multiple exposure, and unusual occupancy risk considerations.

The students are taught advanced applications in the Incident Command System, command and control, decision making, strategic and tactical considerations, pre-incident preparation, documentation, and post-incident analysis.  

Several simulations and case studies are used to depict and review incidents in various types of target hazards. Some examples of these are penal institutions, bulk oil-storage facilities, nursing homes, colleges, chemical/agricultural manufacturing plants, and grain elevators. Chief Mathis is a 24-year member of the fire company and a previous graduate of a number of NFA courses. He holds an Associate Degree in Physical Science from Valley Forge Military College.

Both courses are very comprehensive and use lectures, case studies, simulations, and student participation as instructional methods. 

Anyone interested in joining the professional volunteers in the Kingston Fire Company can email Chief Mathis at chief@kingstonfireco.com.

 The National Fire Academy is located on the grounds of the National Emergency Training Center, a 107-acre campus that also houses the Emergency Management Institute (EMI) and the United State Fire Administration Headquarters (USFA) in Emmitsburg, Maryland. The USFA, EMI and NFA are all part of the Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency.  

The center is 12 miles south of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania; 50 miles northwest of Baltimore, Maryland; and 50 miles north of Washington, D.C. All costs associated for travel, lodging and course materials are reimbursed by the federal government.

For additional information about the National Fire Academy and its curriculum, go to www.usfa.dhs.gov.