Ind. fire chief applauds new firefighter training law

The bill establishes basic skills, standardized classroom training and continued training at district centers around the state

The Tribune-Star

TERRE HAUTE, Ind. — Terre Haute Fire Chief Jeff Fisher says that a bill signed by Gov. Mike Pence on Thursday will benefit firefighters around the state, and could bring even more attention to Terre Haute’s district training facility.

House Enrolled Act 1182 established the Fire and Public Safety Academy Training System to establish basic skills, standardized classroom training and continued training at district centers around the state.

“We’re hoping for good things out of this,” said Fisher, who was in downtown Indianapolis at the 88th Annual Fire Department Instructors Conference International when Pence signed the bill. The legislation saw bipartisan support in the Indiana General Assembly.

THFD has a regional training facility that was established several years ago. It hosts training for firefighters all over the state and region and has hosted foreign crews from Afghanistan, Europe and elsewhere.

“I’m hoping Terre Haute is still on the radar as a training site for the state,” Fisher said of the new training plan. He said that many details remain to be worked out by an oversight committee the bill establishes.

The standardized basic training will mean firefighters around the state have the same training, so a firefighter who moves to Terre Haute from another city would have the same foundation. Advance training, such as swift-water, rope and grain bin training will still probably be conducted regionally by departments around the state, Fisher said. For instance, swift-water rescue training in Indiana is conducted in South Bend.

“I don’t think we’ll see an impact from this bill for another year or so,” he told the Tribune-Star. “It will take that long to get everything set up.”