More than 300 career and volunteer firefighters from more than 100 fire agencies (city and tribal fire departments, fire districts, and wildland) throughout the state were at the Oregon Public Safety Academy in Salem this weekend for the State’s annual Winter Fire School.
This is the 16th annual Winter Fire School hosted by the Department of Public Safety Standards and Training (DPSST) at the Oregon Public Safety Academy 4190 Aumsville Highway in Salem.
Eleven classes are being offered by the National Fire Academy, DPSST, and the City of Dallas Fire & EMS Department.
Classes range from leadership topics such as Health and Safety Officer, Strategy and Tactics for Initial Company Operations, Decision Making for Initial Company Operations, Leadership in Supervision: Creating Environments for Professional Growth, Perspectives in Thinking, Leadership in Supervision: Frameworks to Success, Wildland Urban Interface Firefighting for Structural Company Officer, and hands-on classes such as Vehicle Extrication and Back to the Basics: Hose and Ladders Instructor Course.
DPSST Director Eriks Gabliks said “DPSST is proud to offer this weekend training event each year. This event is held in a weekend setting because over 80% of the firefighters in Oregon are volunteers. This two-day event is the largest two-day fire training experience in the Pacific Northwest that is offered free of charge. The hands-on classes being offered are using training props which DPSST recently received thanks to a FEMA Assistance to Firefighters Grant.”
While many people are aware of DPSST’s law enforcement training programs, they may not realize that DPSST is also the state fire training organization for Oregon and provides hundreds of training opportunities to firefighters each year at the Academy and at regional locations statewide.
DPSST appreciates the red carpet hospitality local businesses, and the Salem community as a whole, roll-out for the career and volunteer firefighters attending this weekend training opportunity.
## Background Information on the DPSST ##
The Department of Public Safety Standards and Training (DPSST) operates the Oregon Public Safety Academy which spans more than 235 acres in Salem. The Academy is nationally recognized for its innovative training programs and active stakeholder involvement. Eriks Gabliks serves as the Director, and Sheriff Jason Myers of the Marion County Sheriff’s Office serves as the Chair of the Board. The department implements minimum standards established by the Board for the training and certification of more than 45,000 city, tribal, county and state law enforcement officers, corrections officers, parole and probation officers, fire service personnel, telecommunicators, emergency medical dispatchers and private security providers.
DPSST provides training to more than 25,000 students each year throughout Oregon and at the Oregon Public Safety Academy in Salem: certifies qualified officers at various levels from basic through executive; certifies qualified instructors; and reviews and accredits training programs throughout the state based on standards established by the Board.
