State Capital Area Firefighters
Association
PO BOX 87
Silver Lake, KS 66539
785-478-4053
Joe Hawkins, President
Karl McNorton, Vice-President
Emily Rupple, Secretary
Forrest Walter, Treasurer
Fire Fighters Teaching Firefighters
32nd Annual SCAFFA Fire School
March 18 – 22, 2015
Ramada * 420 SE 6th Ave, Topeka, KS
Co-sponsored by: State Capital Area Firefighters Association (SCAFFA), Kansas Fire &
Rescue Training Institute (KFRTI), EMS Tech, Kansas State Firefighters Association
(KSFFA), Topeka Fire Department, Kansas Forest Service, Shawnee Heights FD, Dover
FD, Mission Township FD, Soldier Township FD, Kansas Department of Health &
Environment (KDHE), Stormont Vail Hospital, KSFMO, SNCO, SNCO Emergency
Management, Union Pacific, VFIS, CFD2, AMR, Hurst Tools, Midwest Card Solutions,
Simplex/Grinnel Sprinklers
An electronic version of this information can be found at:
http://www.scaffa.org. A link can also be found at http://www.ksffa.com/
which is a source with other valuable information for firefighters.
Check it out!
SPECIAL EVENTS
SCBA Fit Testing
Kansas State Firefighters Association will offer SCBA fit testing at the SCAFFA School. They
will be offered on Friday, March 20th and Saturday, March 21st.
*Vendor Display & Vendors’ Night – Friday, March 20th
The State Capitol Area Fire Fighters Association is again proud to host one the largest vendor
displays held in Kansas. Exhibitors will display on Thursday, March 20th until Saturday night,
March 22nd.
Roadrunner’s Hockey Game – Saturday, March 21st
The Roadrunners take the ice at 7 p.m. at the Kansas Expocentre, 1 Expocentre Dr, Topeka, KS
66612. By showing your fire ID at the ticket window you can get tickets for only $9.75. If you
have never been or have always been a fan of hockey, the Roadrunners are a great team to see!
AGENDA
7 a.m. Registration….Ramada Atrium
8 a.m. Morning classes begin
Noon Lunch on your own
1 p.m. Afternoon classes begin
5 p.m. Adjournment
Registration & Fees
• Registration is $25 per person, unlimited classes.
• Certification is an additional $15 fee that will be billed separately.
• Please register in advance. To receive a confirmation letter for the fire school, you must
register by February 25, 2015. After that date, no letters will be sent.
• Participants must be 18 years of age to participate in this school.
• Please bring your Fire ID badge.
*Registration will be located just inside the atrium of the Ramada
*Late registrations and walk-ins are always welcome.
Transportation
Participants need to provide their own transportation to courses not held at the Ramada.
Lodging
A block of rooms has been reserved at the Ramada, 420 SE 6th Ave., Topeka, KS at the rate of
$79 for double or single occupancy. It includes a hot breakfast. To take advantage of the
special rate, call 785-234-5400 by March 1, 2015, and mention that you will be attending
SCAFFA Fire School. After March 1, 2015, room availability and rates cannot be guaranteed
All-Day classes are from 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. w/ 1 hour lunch.
AM classes are from 8 a.m. – 12 p.m.
PM classes are from 1 p.m. – 5 p.m.
Advanced Fire Behavior
Brian Arnold
Max Occupancy: 24
Class Length: 8 hrs.
Day: Saturday
Everyday firefighters across our country are going to battle against our enemy- Fire! Just as it was over 100
years ago our primary means of putting fires out is the application of water to the seat of the fire. GPM in
sufficient quantities overwhelms BTU’s. But what has changed over the years is the amount of heat (BTU’s)
and how quickly fire conditions can change while interior attack crews are pushing towards the seat of the fire.
In this class, students will practice advancing a hand line, recognizing their environment and controlling their
environment while advancing to the seat of a Live Fire. Students will practice maintaining thermal balance of
the fire building, recognizing the importance of directing hose streams to save lives First and property second.
Students will have the opportunity to watch fire behavior as part of the attack team as well as from an interior
position to witness the direct results that sometime occur remote from nozzle operations.
At the conclusion of the class; students will have gained the knowledge to properly recognize when the attack
line should be opened and flowed, the importance of maintaining a thermal balance and the need for a
coordinated team approach on the fire ground.
Equipment needed- Students will need Bunker including SCBA and spare cylinder.
AFG Grant Writing
Linda Davis
Max Occupancy: 24
Class Length: 4 hrs.
Day: Saturday AM
The goal of the workshop is to increase the number of competitive AFG applications/awards by enhancing
attendee’s application planning & development process.
This class will provide AFG grant preparation tips, tools and resources to improve competitive grant writing
skills from pre-planning to computer scoring. It also enhances narrative development and narrative evaluation
skills through the review of actual submitted narratives.
Objectives:
Increase the number of competitive grants by:
• Relating knowledge of the AFG programs/priorities to project development.
• Enhancing application planning.
• Providing Computer scoring tips
• Highlighting support resources.
• Relating project narrative development to program priorities and questions used in computer scoring.
• Providing narrative writing tips.
• Learning to objectively evaluate your narrative.
Anhydrous Ammonia Emergency Response
KFRTI
Max Occupancy: 24
Class Length: 4 hrs.
Day: Thursday AM
Anhydrous ammonia, NH3, is widely used in agriculture and industry. Penetrating vapors from this gas are
suffocating and can lead to severe health problems, even death. This exciting training video outlines an active
program of safety and inspection to prevent accidents in the workplace and during emergency response.
Topics covered include:
• Hazard properties
• New DHS reporting and security requirements
• Up-to-date standards for containers
• For risk management planning: new information on toxic endpoints for anhydrous ammonia
• Illegal use of anhydrous ammonia in meth labs
• DOT and NFPA placards and labels
• Air monitoring and ventilation
• Special problems posed by enclosed spaces
• Newest information about controlling vapors after spills
• Use of water fog spray, carbon dioxide and foam to control vapors
• Protective equipment used in emergency response
Auto Extrication
Hurst Tools
Max Occupancy: 30
Class Length: 16 hrs.
Days: Saturday & Sunday
This course uses the “Carbusters” series. It consists of five tapes with instructors’ guidebooks leading the
student through the “Principles of Extrication” to “Command Philosophies and Special Situations.” A hands-on
segment is worked in so the student can get the feel of the tools. EMS Credit through KSFFA.
Prerequisite: All participants need to bring PPE and eye protection to participate in hands-on exercises.
BLS Skills Challenge
Con Olson, Paramedic
Max Occupancy: 24
Class Length: 4 hrs.
Day: Friday AM
A fun, interactive, scenario-based class designed to test your general patient assessment and care of the sick or
injured.
Basic Firefighter Skills
KSFFA
Max Occupancy: 24
Class Length: 8 hrs.
Day: Saturday
This course is intended for all ranges of firefighters. It is geared towards the novice, but is useful for the
seasoned firefighter as well. Ventilation skills, SCBA skills, forcible entry, and hose deployments are all part of
this 8 hour class. 4 different stations will allow students a chance to participate in all the different skills. Full
PPE with SCBA is required for this class.
Building Junior Fire Fighter Programs
Jim Bodenheimer
Max Occupancy: 24
Class Length: 4 hrs.
Day: Thursday PM
Is your department considering setting up a junior or cadet Firefighter program? If not, it should. Do you have
one already but it is stagnating? This class will look at both the Explorer program and running a program on
your own, look at the strengths, weaknesses and restrictions of each approach to help your department decide
the best course of action for your circumstances. As important, we’ll look at the reasons your department should
have a junior program, junior Firefighter safety, who you want running the program, which youth to recruit, and
what sort of activities to implement. We will discuss three critical issues; insurance, how to avoid program
stagnation, and adult leader burnout.
Chief Officers
KSFFA
Max Occupancy: 24
Class Length: 8 hrs.
Day: Friday
This class is for both old and new fire department chief officers or for those who aspire to be chief officers.
Class will examine basic material and how fire departments are organized, what resources are available, what
standards apply and what they mean, and basic legal concepts that will help you succeed in the fire service as a
chief officer.
Chlorine Emergency Response
KFRTI
Max Occupancy: 24
Class Length: 4 hrs.
Day: Thursday PM
This training program includes information about chlorine's use as a WMD in Iraq; studies DHS warnings about
a worst case scenario involving chlorine; updated information about placarding and labeling; an extensive case
study of the Graniteville, SC train derailment and chlorine release of 40 tons of gas. Topics covered include:
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Vapor behavior
Toxic effects of chlorine
Use of Level A and Level B ensembles during response activities
Methods of leak detection
Container design
Chlorine Institute A, B and C kits
Use of water to cool containers and for vapor control
Chronic Stress and its Effects on First Responders
Dawn Ptaschek
Max Occupancy: 24
Class Length: 4 hrs.
Day: Saturday PM
This class will focus on building stress resiliency for your First Responders and you. Stress awareness and
management are crucial to optimize individual and team performance. We will discuss how to identify signs
and symptoms of stress and practical work/life balance skills. We will share valuable post-incident coping
methods. The content of this class is designed specifically for the unique demands of the First Responder in
mind.
Company Officer
Brian Spini
Max Occupancy: 24
Class Length: 8 hrs.
Day: Saturday
This is not a canned text book class! This is a down and dirty street level class, on what it takes to be The
Company Officer. We will cover lessons that we have learned and practices that we use in our daily jobs as
company officers.
The company officer has to lead, manage, protect, train and sometimes counsel his personnel. He has to support
his crew and his Chiefs; this all starts with the company officer. Many times the company officer is the first
officer on the emergency scene and is responsible to set things in motion for a successful outcome.
This class will discuss the everyday responsibilities of the company officer, and help give the students an idea
on what it takes to be a successful company officer.
The class will be presented in four parts:
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L.E.A.D.E.R.S.H.I.P. The 10 Principles of Leadership
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Lessons Learned the Hard Way
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Crew Readiness: Company Level Training
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Fireground Decision Making-The First Five Minutes
Critical Thinking in EMS
Dr. Deborah Smith
Max Occupancy: 24
Class Length: 4 hrs.
Day: Saturday PM
How to think outside the box and around the corner, as well as looking beyond the signs and symptoms.
Downed Powerlines (2 Class Times)
Westar Energy
Max Occupancy: 24
Class Length: 4 hrs.
Days: Friday AM & 2nd Class Friday PM
Westar Energy will have classroom and an outside demonstrations that show the power and deadly
consequences when electricity is under estimated. As a fire fighter this is a must know information. Actual
transformer props with 17,000 volts demonstrated will make you a believer.
Emergency Pediatric Care
Tracy Cleary
Max Occupancy: 24
Class Length: 16 hrs.
Days: Thursday & Friday
Emergency Pediatric Care (EPC) is an education program from the National Association of Emergency Medical
Technicians (NAEMT). This program is for prehospital practitioners committed to providing quality care for
pediatric patients. Course lectures and interactive sessions address assessment; airway, breathing, and
circulation; understanding and caring for children; hypo perfusion and shock; cardiac emergencies and
congenital cardiac defects; common medical emergencies; trauma, newborn resuscitation, vascular access; care
team management, spinal motion restriction, children with special healthcare needs; identification of life threats,
scene choreography, transport decisions, and child abuse and neglect. CEU’s will be provided for this class.
Emergency Response to Tornadoes
Dirk Christian, SCFD #4
Max Occupancy: 24
Class Length: 4 hrs.
Day: Thursday PM
"Emergency Response to Tornadoes" highlights initial response, assets to ask for, mutual aid resources,
activation of an IMT, activation of a Search and Rescue Task Force, and then talks through all of the resources
that can be asked for throughout the State of KS; all while working through a Tactical Worksheet that I have
developed strictly for Tornado Response. It's a half-day class that really serves as an Incident Management and
Command Staff workshop.
Farm Extrication
KSFFA
Max Occupancy: 32
Class Length: 16 hrs
Days: Thursday & Friday
Farming is the most hazardous occupation currently in the world, surpassing mining and firefighting. Rescuers
need to be aware of the types of machinery and special problems associated with incidents in farming
communities. The farm rescue class is designed similar to the vehicle extrication course offered. It differs in as
much as the farm equipment and situations that are presented to the rescuer in the farm setting. With actual
hands on training dismantling farm equipment and simulated rescues, this course offers a unique perspective on
this problem.
COURSE REQUIREMENTS...
•
PPE required
Fire Boards / City Council Responsibilities to the Fire Service
Jim Bodenheimer
Max Occupancy: 24
Class Length: 4 hrs.
Day: Friday PM
This class is focused on city council and fire board members as well as senior fire department leadership. It
explores the following questions: What do members of Fire Boards and City Councils need to know about fire
protection and their fire departments? We will discuss strategies to provide the best protection possible, what a
good working relationship entails, and the statutory duties of Fire Boards and City Councils for the various
forms of fire protection in Kansas?
Firefighter Rehab
Max Occupancy: 24
Class Length: 4 hrs.
Day: Thursday AM
Firefighter medical monitoring and rehabilitation has been identified as a critical part of managing the health
and safety as well as reducing the potential for Line of Duty injuries and death. The three and a half hour
program will provide knowledge of how to evaluate, set up and administer firefighter rehab in accordance with
NFPA 1584 standards. The class will cover the definition of and the need for rehab, describe the physiological
and environmental threats to firefighters and an overview of what can occur on the fire ground. Several case
studies will also be presented.
EMS certified personnel attending this class will be awarded 3.5 hours of EMS continuing education.
Force Meeting
Pat Collins – Riley Co. EM
Max Occupancy: 24
Class Length: 4 hrs.
Day: Friday PM
Over the last years several of the NE Fire Chiefs have been trying to organize the NE FORCe group. We have a
draft operations plan that mirrors the SC region’s plan and are looking for FORCe coordinators to begin
implementation of FORCE in our region. FORCe is a grassroots effort to assist local fire departments with
mutual aid from departments outside their adjoining or local mutual aid. During the meeting the FORCe
coordinators role will be discussed along with how to sign up and maintain your agency in Mutual Aid.net.
Grain Engulfment
KFRTI
Max Occupancy: 20
Class Length: 8 hrs.
Day: Saturday
This class covers an emergency situation that most of us in Kansas can possibly face at any time. This course
leads you through complete grain facilities, firefighting equipment and protection systems etc. and finally to
controlling fires and fire prevention programs. Silos are also looked at and how best to extinguish those fires. A
must course if you're not completely familiar with grain facilities and silo operations. The course will also
discuss other farm supply facility incidents.
Hydraulic Weaponry
Brian Arnold
Max Occupancy: 20
Class Length: 8 hrs.
Day: Friday
Everyday firefighters across our country are going to battle against our enemy- Fire! Sadly, most aren’t
educated about the primary weapons they are using to do battle with the fire; their nozzles, hose and appliances.
Just as it was over 100 years ago our primary means of putting fires out is the application of water to the seat of
the fire. GPM in sufficient quantities overwhelms BTU’s. But what has changed over the years is the amount of
heat (BTU’s) and how quickly fire conditions can change while interior attack crews are pushing towards the
seat of the fire. Many firefighters don’t understand the concept of taking the biggest weapon they can carry and
placing it into an attack position in a timely manner. We are taking knives to a gun battle with an enemy that is
showing us an overwhelming show of force from the moment we arrive.
In this class, students are encouraged to bring nozzles and even hose from their home departments to see how
they stack up against with the newest technology available on the market. Flow tests of nozzles, nozzle reaction
and friction loss of hose and appliances will be put to the test. Theories of water application will be given and
demonstrated to put into place the maximum amount of water needed in a short period of time. Hose loads and
stretches with minimum personnel will be shown and demonstrated. Quick water drills with master stream
appliances and learning how to maximize your hydrant will be demonstrated and discussed.
At the conclusion of the class; students will have gained the knowledge of what weapon they are carrying into
battle with enemy and be prepared to choose the most appropriate nozzle and hose combination available to
them and their department.
Equipment needed- Class A pumper fully equipped with qualified operator. Students will need Bunker gear
but no SCBA.
Instructor I w/Online Coursework Prior
KFRTI
Max Occupancy: 20
Class Length: 16 hrs.
Days: Saturday & Sunday
This 2-day seminar is the second part of a blended learning format for Fire Instructor 1 training offered by
KF&RTI. No student will be admitted to this seminar without a successful completion of the online portion
(defined as Part 1 of the training). The online portion covers course material from the 8thedition of IFSTA’s
Fire and Emergency Services Instructor textbook. A course fee of $40 eliminates the need to purchase a
textbook because students access IFSTA material as part of the online course.
During the 2-day seminar, students will actively participate in assigned group activities to deliver short, 3 -5
minute presentations. All participants are required to deliver an assigned 15 minute presentation during the last
day of the seminar. Contact Dave Ford ([email protected]) at least one week in advance for a copy of your
assigned presentation.
ISO Hauled Water
Joseph Fratantaro, Community Hazard Mitigation Services
Max Occupancy: 24
Class Length: 4 hrs.
Day: Friday AM
This class will review the aspects of alternative water supplies. This will include areas such as using dry
hydrants, suction points and fire department supply, Hauling Water. We will discuss the process of getting
alternative water sources such as dry hydrants and suction points credited in the community grading. For those
interested in Hauling Water, we will review the requirements, and the needed procedures and activities that will
be required for crediting this type of alternative water supply.
ISO Updates
Joseph Fratantaro, Community Hazard Mitigation Services
Max Occupancy: 24
Class Length: 4 hrs.
Day: Friday PM
In this class you will learn about ISO’s Public Protection Classification (PPC) program, the system which ISO
uses to review the firefighting capabilities of nearly 48,000 fire protection areas across the United States. The
primary focus will be on the newly implemented revisions to the Fire Suppression Rating Schedule (FSRS), the
manual used for collecting and processing data for those evaluations.
Large Vehicle Extrication
KSFFA
Max Occupancy: 30
Class Length: 16 hrs.
Days: Saturday & Sunday
This class will build on basic extrication techniques and will help increase the students’ knowledge and skills
when dealing with a large truck or school bus extrication. The classroom portion of the training will deal with
large vehicle anatomy and design and special techniques that can be used when cutting, lifting, and gaining
entry to these vehicles. The majority of the class will be hands-on doing practical work and evolutions on
school buses and semi tractors/trailers.
Note: Full PPE is required for participation in this class – Helmet, Fire Boots or leather safety boots, eye
protection, gloves, coveralls, or bunker gear.
Managing Volunteer And Small Combination Emergency Service
Organizations: Tips For The Fire Department CEO
Bill Niehenke, VFIS
Max Occupancy: 24
Class Length: 4 hrs.
Day: Friday AM
Based on the VFIS text of the same title, this workshop reviews key areas of fire department management, e.g.
budgeting, bylaws, when to request legal assistance, strategic planning and more. The workshop provides five
"tips for the fire department CEO" in each of the areas, which help assess and enhance your emergency service
organization. The text is based on management topics requested by our clients.
Medical Response to Firefighter Mayday
David Mellen, Paramedic
Max Occupancy: 24
Class Length: 8 hrs.
Day: Saturday
Most current mayday programs focus solely on finding and rescuing downed firefighters, not treating them.
This class will focus on both ALS and BLS patient care of the firefighter from the second they are found. From
smoke inhalation to burns, trauma to medical emergencies, many aspects of the mayday patient will be
examined. Students will use NFPA standards, case studies, and hands-on scenarios to develop a better
understanding of the medical care needed for a downed firefighter. 4 hours of hands-on classroom time added
for 2015!)
Meth Lab Awareness
Alan Stahl, TFD
Max Occupancy: 24
Class Length: 4 hrs.
Day: Saturday PM
The Division of Fire Safety developed this awareness level program to better educate first responders about the
potential hazards and dangers associated with clandestine methamphetamine labs. Entry into and operations
within a meth lab should never be attempted by anyone who is not specially trained and equipped for the
dangers which will be encountered. The program includes not only meth lab hazards and responses, but
chemical seizures and dumpsites.
Mission Focused Training – Building Better Programs
Dirk Christian, SCFD # 4
Max Occupancy: 24
Class Length: 8 hrs.
Day: Friday
Class Requirements: Classroom with Instructional Multi-media & AV (Computer, Projection Screen,
Computer Projector, Computer Speakers, Dry Erase Board or Easel with Butcher Paper)
Course Description: As our funding for training shrinks and the grant money stops flowing in, how are we
going to continue to train our personnel? This workshop helps to answer that question – and will help you
build a better, low cost training program. Together, we will identify methods to conduct safe, realistic training
in what is quickly becoming a ‘resource constrained’ environment. This class will assist the Training Officer,
members of the Command Staff, and Company Officers to plan - develop – resource - and document realistic
training! We will develop training plans & training calendars, quarterly training programs, monthly training
schedules and training outlines; while exploring innovative ways to resource training without breaking the
budget. This class picks up where Instructor 1 leaves off…and applies to any size Fire Department and is very
relevant to Volunteers, Combination and Paid Departments. Each student will walk away with training
products, examples of props, and other materials that are relevant to their fire department that they can take
home to immediately start improving their training program!
New Vehicle Technologies
Tom Rodman, TFD
Max Occupancy: 24
Class Length: 4 hrs.
Day: Saturday PM
This course includes discussion and power point on air bags, hybrids, electric vehicles, modern vehicle hazards,
new vehicle construction, new technology hydraulic tools, and new vehicle extrication techniques.
NIMS 300-400 Refresher
John Sholey, Midwest Card and ID Solutions
Max Occupancy: 20
Class Length: 8 hrs.
Day: Thursday
NIMS 300-400 refresher course that focuses the attendee around writing NIMS All Hazard Compliant
Incident/Event Action Plans. The course would include writing plans for Pre-planned Events (SCAFFA, Sports
Events, Parades, and Festivals) and Incident Action Plans (Tornado, Wildfire, Flood, Haz-Mat). We will be
using a software called Dragonfly to produce our plans (www.dragonfly-360.com). This tool is currently being
used across the State of Kansas and the United States.
This is not a sales demo but rather a chance to train our First Responders using the latest technology to quickly,
efficiently, and progressively become more prepared to respond, improve situational awareness, and develop
actions plans. This proposed training would directly translate to service improvements provided to the tax payer
that your attendees serve. Additionally, Dragonfly has a tool that creates an NFPA 1620: Standard for Preincident Planning compliant Pre-plan. This is an important activity for Fire Departs as you know. If you have
ever had to participate in an ISO PPC process, then you are aware that pre-plans, preparedness, and Company
Level Inspections are looked at closely during ISO audits. Teaching attendees the Pre-plan process would be a
fantastic course as well.
Prerequisites: NIMS 300, NIMS 400
Not My Circus, Not My Monkeys!
Battalion Chief Ed Barger, CONS. Fire District No. 2, Johnson County, Kansas
Max Occupancy: 24
Class Length: 4 hrs.
Day: Friday AM
Emergency incidents can be extremely dynamic scenarios, changing in
complexity due to contributing conditions and mitigation efforts.
Successful emergency scene management hinges on the training, experience and communications skills of scene
commanders and operating personnel. The ability of personnel to remain objective, making sound strategic and
tactical decisions is imperative, from initial size up to the clearing of a scene. It is critical that scene
commanders be able to make these tactical, cue based decisions based on all available information presented by
the incident. Cue based decision making is a method that relies heavily on the experience factor of personnel on
scene. It tends to be a quick and aggressive style of scene management that prompts questions and creates
training opportunities in less experienced personnel.
PHTLS
Dave Rethman & Chad Beckley, Paramedics
Max Occupancy: 24
Class Length: 16 hrs.
Days: Friday & Saturday
PHTLS is the world’s premier prehospital trauma education developed in cooperation with the American
College of Surgeons to promote critical thinking in addressing multi-system trauma and provide the latest
evidence-based treatment practices.
Patient Extrication
Jeremy Andrews, Paramedic & Daniel Whiteman, AEMT
Max Occupancy: 24
Class Length: 4 hrs.
Day: Sunday AM
Scenarios will include medical patients, trauma patients, and patients experiencing cardiac arrest. Labs will
include extricating patients from autos, limited space areas, such as hallways, patient moving and lifting.
Pit Crew CPR
David Mellen, Paramedic
Max Occupancy: 24
Class Length: 4 hrs.
Day: Friday PM
It’s all about COMPRESSIONS! High quality! Limited interruptions! Defibrillation. Controlled ventilations.
Everything else is SECONDARY!
Propane Emergencies
KS Propane Marketers
Max Occupancy: 24
Class Length: 4 hrs.
Day: Friday AM
“Propane Emergencies” training, which has earned the Award of Excellence from the American Society of
Association Executives, was developed for the emergency response community and the propane industry in
cooperation with the National Propane gas Association, with funding from the Propane Education & Research
Council. This training will include viewing a Propane Emergencies DVD, produced by the Emergency Film
Group and a presentation by Dennis Cruise to review various types of propane containers, stress the importance
of being prepared to handle a propane emergency, discusses firefighting tactics and general emergency response
procedures as well as the importance of working with your local emergency personnel in the event of an
incident or accident. Presenter Dennis Cruise, from Charlottesville, Virginia, is employed by the Virginia
Propane Gas Association as an Outreach Coordinator. He has been conducting safety related training and
education for over 30 years to propane industry members, law enforcement and fire protection agencies.
Public Information Officer
KSFFA
Max Occupancy: 24
Class Length: 16 hrs.
Days: Thursday & Friday
Emergency Public Information Officers (PIOs) are responsible for ensuring that the affected public receives
accurate and timely information during an emergency. Armed with good information, people are better able to
make good decisions and, by doing so, contribute to the overall response goal of saving lives and protecting
property. This (2-day) course is designed to prepare participants to function as full- or part-time PIOs.
Additionally, this training is a prerequisite and foundation for more advanced training that takes participants
from the awareness level to the mastery level in their pubic information careers. This training will equip
participants with the basic skills needed to be full- or part-time PIOs such as oral and written communications,
and understanding and working with the media, and basic tools and techniques needed to perform effectively.
Reading Smoke
KSFFA
Max Occupancy: 24
Class Length: 4 hrs.
Day: Thursday AM
Often, smoke showing from a building is the only clue available to predict fire behavior. Fire-arriving officers,
Incident Commanders, and Safety Officers MUST know how to rapidly read smoke – this class explains the
reading-smoke process and gives participants practice through hands-on learning practicals and role playing.
Rebranding Your Fire Department
Jim Bodenheimer
Max Occupancy: 24
Class Length: 4 hrs.
Day: Friday AM
Let’s face it; many departments are having difficulty bringing in quality Firefighters. Whether your members
are proud of their department or not speaks volumes about it. What kind of support do you receive from the
community? A department that the community scorns and belittles receives less support in many ways and the
Firefighters feel the negativity most of all. Social pressures will cause good volunteers to fall away and others to
avoid contact with a department with a negative reputation. If there has been an accident or incident which put
your department in a bad light, it can take years to recover. Turmoil in the leadership can destroy morale from
within. This class is focused on developing a plan for improving your department’s image; how to identify
strengths and weaknesses in order to build on what is good and remove the flaws that Firefighters and the
community focus upon, how to reach out to young men and women in order to recruit quality Firefighters.
We’ll discuss what works and what doesn’t, what cultural changes to focus on, how perception can become
reality, and a timeline for positive change. Already have a positive image? What is your plan for maintaining
that?
Recruitment & Retention
VFIS
Max Occupancy: 24
Class Length: 4 hrs.
Day: Thursday PM
This course will assist volunteer organizations in recruiting volunteers more effectively. In addition, it provides
ideas and techniques for motivating the individual and the group. The class will discuss fundraising techniques
as well as ways to meet the psychological needs of volunteers. The final portion of the class will go over
specific efforts in Kansas involving the KSFFA and the 1-800-FIRELINE project under the KSFFA SAFER
Grant. Participants will receive a copy of the latest recruitment spot for use in their departments.
R.I.T. Training
Josh Register, CFD2
Max Occupancy: 24
Class Length: 32 hrs.
Days: Thursday, Friday, Saturday & Sunday
This hands-on class will focus on the need for Rapid Intervention Teams on every fire ground. Participants will
learn it takes more than a few firefighters standing around a tarp to rescue a downed firefighter. Class will
cover such things as Air Management, Managing the Mayday, RIT Staging & Size-up, RIT Search in Large
Areas & Residential Structures, Firefighter Self-Rescue Techniques, Thermal Imaging Cameras, Hand Tools,
Firefighter Removal Techniques, RIT Obstacle Course and Live Drills at acquired structures.
Full PPE and SCBA required (spare bottle if you have it). It is recommended that participants bring knee pads.
This is a very physically demanding class.
Prerequisite: Participants must bring SCBA and turn-out gear and eye protection to participate in hands-on
exercises.
SHRP2 – Traffic Safety
Erin Mahan
Max Occupancy: 24
Class Length: 4 hrs.
Day: Thursday PM
SHRP2 is a new coordinated, multi-disciplinary training program developed through the second Strategic
Highway Research Program (SHRP2) for all emergency responders and those supporting Traffic Incident
Management operations. The training puts police, firefighters, state and local departments of transportation,
towing, medical personnel, and other incident responders on the same page, leading to a safer, faster, integrated
responder team for various roadway incidents helping provide safer roadway responses.
Sprinklers
Max Occupancy: 24
Class Length: 4 hrs.
Day: Friday PM
We will cover the major components that are common to all types of automatic sprinkler systems, including the
water supply, piping, and sprinkler heads. We will cover the design and configuration of piping systems for
automatic sprinkler systems, which are found in NFPA 13 and cover the inspection, testing, and maintenance
requirements for automatic sprinkler systems, which are found in NFPA 25.
Strike Team/Task Force Workshop
Pat Collins – Riley Co. EM
Max Occupancy: 24
Class Length: 8 hrs.
Day: Thursday
The workshop addresses the roles and responsibilities appropriate to a Task Force/Strike team Leader operating
on concert with a local or state-level AH IMT. These responsibilities fall into two categories: (1) responding to
the incident and the command needs of the incident, and (2) effectively fulfilling the position responsibilities of
a Task Force/Strike Team Leader in conjunction with an AH IMT. This is an all-hazards, instructor-led course
that facilitates learning through discussion, lecture, and active participation in multiple exercise scenarios. This
is an 8-hour workshop and is not a certification course.
Train Derailment
Lane Sekavec, UP
Max Occupancy: 24
Class Length: 4 hrs.
Day: Saturday AM
This class will be using photos to discuss responses to various incidents and how they are handled. Doing it as a
free-form "class" lets the students really discuss how the incident played out and what their interactions might
have been.
Violence in the Workplace
Deputy Director Dusty Nichols, Shawnee County Emergency Management
Cpl. Erin Mahan, Shawnee County Sheriff’s Office
Max Occupancy: 24
Class Length: 4 hrs.
Day: Saturday AM
This program discusses potential early warning signs of violence in the workplace. A presentation covering
internal and external threats as well as your actions should violent acts occur while you are on the job.
This 3 hour session is part of an 8 hour block of discussion of the “Active Shooter in the Healthcare
Environment” that has been delivered to over 350 of the NEKS regional healthcare partners over the past year;
with additional student requested courses continuing through 2015.
REQUIRED EQUIPMENT: Students should bring with them a Windows laptop and or Windows tablet that
has either Windows 7, 8, or 8.1 installed. Tablets with Windows RT will not allow the software to run
appropriately.
Wildland Fire Fighting w/Certificate
Kansas Forestry Service
Max Occupancy: 24
Class Length: 32 hrs.
Days: Wednesday, Thursday, Friday & Saturday
This introductory course is designed to train entry-level firefighters. You will be introduced to and gain
knowledge of the basic incident management organization, firefighting techniques, suppression equipment,
safety, strategy/tactics along with fire behavior, and establish an awareness of human performance issues that
impact fire line job performance.
(Note: Students will need to bring work clothing, leather lace-up boots, work gloves and hardhat to this class)