By: Captain Jason D. Blake, NREMT-P
In-Service Training Coordinator Montgomery County
Fire Rescue Service
The Montgomery County Fire Rescue Training Academy (MCFRTA)
operates seven days and six nights a week with over 6,000 students being
trained in Fire, Rescue, EMS and other fire service
related training each year.
The County is divided into five battalions, managed by a Battalion
Chief. On average there are six firehouses with approximately 60 personnel
working. On any given day at the MCFRTA there are 60-80 students being taught a
wide variety of fire service training topics. There are days when there is an
equivalent of a battalion of people training at the academy.
The MCFRTA does initial training for new members of our career
and volunteer fire service and refresher/recertification/update training of all
of members. Basic and advanced emergency medical training is required of all
our personnel and you will find a wide variety of experience and rank in our
classes. Assistant Chiefs and Battalion Chiefs, with years of experience,
running scenario based training with firefighters with 3-5 years on the job.
The department’s specialty teams, (Hazardous Materials, Urban
Search and Rescue, etc) train at the academy to keep their skills proficient.
The MCFTRA hosts regional and national classes on a regular
basis to keep our personnel up to date, and proficient, on all of the latest
information and skills as it relates to making sure we are ready to respond to
any type of emergency situation. The classes include Fire, EMS,
Rescue and Management course given through the National
Fire Academy,
International Association of Firefighters, International Association of Fire Chiefs
or vendors.
