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Training

Training is the foundation of the Fire Corps experience. We begin with an orientation of what a volunteer can expect as State-registered Disaster Service Worker. However, as we regularly operate in non-disaster situations, we maintain a robust training regimen beyond the DSW minimums.

Each of our assigned tasks has a corresponding training program and certification. This gives members the confidence that they are Mission Ready. Likewise, having members demonstrate competence to approved standards gives Incident Commanders the assurance that the Burbank volunteers are, indeed, Mission Capable.

One of the major principles of the professional fire service is the concept of Continuing Education (CE). This is a way to keep the first responders sharp, brushing up both the basics and the auxiliary skills. As the volunteer service becomes first responders in the event of a disaster, Fire Corps is obligated to follow the same principle, though at a considerably more relaxed civilian level. To this end, we encourage members to train beyond the minimums for their next level, and we do recognize the utility of training outside the program.

Within the program, not all training and volunteer opportunities are publicly listed or regularly available. Training criteria is subject to change. Further, we recognize training outside of these listings and will consider additional training when assembling teams. Recognized training that is not currently placed includes skills such as First Aid/AED, First Responder, EMT, traffic control, security and other IS and ICS courses. Members that take and pass the Independent Study courses listed below (or any others) – and who wish to be considered for an advanced tier – should follow the directions on the EMI website, then forward a copy of their completion certificate to the Fire Corps Training Officer.

Volunteers are classified “active” after they contribute twelve (2) hours of volunteer service to the BFCP. Volunteer service hours may include participation in regular BFCP meetings, outreach activities, canteen, arson watch and similar operations. Hours that a volunteer spends receiving training are recognized, recorded and credited, but are not counted towards the volunteers’ “active hours”. An excellent way to clarify the distinction: if you signed an ICS 211 Check-In List at any event or incident outside of training classes, those were “active” hours.

Yes. However, at busy events, we’ve seen people show up and get involved before they can sign in. It is the responsibility of each volunteer to ensure that hours they contribute to BFCP are reported accurately and appropriately. If you forgot to sign in, please email the Training Coordinator.

We ask for a number of reasons. First, it’s a gentle encouragement to think about further training. Second, people sometimes train then forget to forward a copy of their certificate to the Training Coordinator. Finally, if you submitted more than 6 months prior, it’s possible those training records were destroyed before they could be recorded. Until recently, one of our stumbling blocks was that our internal database was stuck in development. We could only keep personal training records for so long before privacy issues dictated those records destroyed. Inconvenient, perhaps, but we value your privacy as much as your safety.

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