America’s fire protection inspectors are in constant need of training to keep them on top of changes in today’s technology-driven economy. New challenges -- from hazardous materials identification to anti-terror preparations -- affect the inspector’s ability to detect and regulate risk in the built environment.

To address this ever-changing situation, the U.S. Fire Administration National Fire Academy fire prevention technical program may evolve with new training roles for its students. The staff has developed a strategic transition plan to move the existing courses in new directions and in new ways.

Long recognized for its valuable, fundamental fire inspection training programs at the Emmitsburg (Md.) campus, the proposed strategic plan emphasizes new -- and more challenging -- educational levels taught with “blended learning” techniques that rely on a combination of distance learning, the Web and on-campus courses.

The plan urges the development of a curriculum that fills the gaps between technical fire protection education available through state and local programs and community colleges with programs taught at four-year colleges and universities.

Under the plan, NFA resident courses will target fire and building safety service leaders who are able to initiate long-term, measurable, and successful change in their local communities. Courses will be “future-oriented,” aimed at identifying and dealing with technology and trends that affect the built environment.

Existing two-week-long basic classes on inspection techniques and fundamental plan-review skills will be repackaged into one-week programs and provided through on-and off-campus deliveries. Currently, not more than 400 students per year are able to take technical fire prevention classes on campus because of the limited facilities. The proposed changes will enable thousands more fire inspectors to get the training.

A key element in the success of this proposal is partnering with state and local governments, colleges and fire protection associations, to emphasize the technical fire prevention training opportunities they can offer. Currently, each state and the District of Columbia are eligible for annual training grants to sponsor National Fire Academy courses at home. An equally important element is assuring that student costs remain low.

Given funding, the plan anticipates the development of at least three new courses in the fire prevention technical area:

• “Fire Protection for the Built Environment” will prepare students with the technical training they need to interpret building and fire code requirements. This course currently is in development.
•  “Hot Topics in Fire Technology” will keep students apprised of current events in fire protection research, design, law and technology both in the United States and abroad. The course will rely heavily on Web and [the NFA’s Learning Resource Center] resources. “Hot Topics in Fire Technology” is proposed for development in the next federal fiscal year beginning in October.
• “Emerging Technology in Fire Protection Systems” will cover current events in fire protection systems and equipment. “Hot Topics in Fire Technology” will be a prerequisite course.  
  

Another new course, “Fire Protection Systems for Incident Commanders,” kicked off June 12. The class blends technical fire protection system training with strategic and tactical tips for incident commanders. It will be offered eight times on campus through September 2006, and then will be released for regional delivery.

Send e-mail to Robert.neale@dhs.gov. for copies of the draft strategic transition plan. Register for “Fire Protection Systems for Incident Commanders” on the USFA Web site.