A history of the Training Division can be found on the Training Division History page.
This Ford V10 extended cab crew van serves the training division. Photo taken December 2002 at the Sunnyoaks training facility.
Training Division equipment on display at Tully Headquarters, 1963.
driving simulator
PA speakers
mike stand
slide projector
opaque projector
overhead projector
Bell & Howell movie projector (16mm?)
Bell & Howell movie projector (8mm?)
headphones, a 35mm camera and several electronics or radio items too small to identify.
mike stand
Resusa-Annie in case
a radio or electronic device
laminator
Regent 1/4" reel-to-real tape deck.
hoe
brushhook
prybar
spanner & hydrant wrenches
a large assortment of hose nozzles
wye
adapters
Company Officer Orientation Academy
A two week (80 hour) Company Officer Orientation Academy is conducted annually. This program presents an opportunity for newly promoted Captains and experienced company officers to interact with one another and share ideas.
During this academy, attendees learn to expand supervisory skills, refine emergency scene management techniques, and further develop their knowledge of county-wide fire ground operations related to County Mutual Aid [CO. MUTUAL AID PLAN], Automatic Aid, and State Wide emergency response.
Recruit Academy
All newly hired firefighters are sent through a 10 week basic firefighter academy prior to beginning work in the stations. Instructed in the California Firefighter I curriculum, the academy is a joint effort by the Santa Clara County Training Officers, under the direction of the Santa Clara County Fire Chiefs.
Participating fire departments within Santa Clara County host the academy on a rotation basis. Known as the Santa Clara County Joint Fire Academy, the JFA conducts two (2) academies each year with an average total of forty (40) new recruits in participation.
Training Calendar - Monthly
The Training Division staff produces a monthly training calendar prior to the 15th of every month. Information on the training calendar includes fire company class and drill schedules, course assignments, meeting schedules, and station coverage information for the month.
An annual planning guide, produced in October of each year, identifies the planned training elements for the following year.
The California Fire Fighter Joint Apprenticeship Committee has declared it to be their purpose and policy to establish and maintain an organized, planned system of apprenticeship, recruitment and training conducted as a joint labor and management undertaking. The committee also declared its primary goals to be:
the improvement of quality and quantity of training for professional firefighters throughout California, and,
the provision of equal employment opportunities and affirmative action toward a more equitable and representative distribution of underrepresented target groups in the California Fire Service.
This program is coordinated through the California Professional Firefighters. The advisory committee is made up of three (3) personnel from management and three (3) personnel from labor.
State Fire Marshal Certifications
Truck Operator Certification
The Santa Clara County Fire Department conducts annual testing for driver operators of emergency fire apparatus in cooperation with the California Department of Motor Vehicles. This is conducted through on going training and testing administered to personnel through the Training Division. The program includes testing of new employees, change in license status, test-on-demand, etc. Each fire station, shop facility, as well as the Training Division, retains an instruction manual within their respective library.
All newly hired firefighters are put through a two week, 80-hour driver operator program within the first 6 months of employment.
Safety Committee
The Deputy Chief (Training Division) chairs the Safety Committee for the Santa Clara County Fire Department. Meeting each quarter, the Safety Committee reviews and researches the circumstances of all employee injuries and makes recommendations to the administrative staff concerning Personal Protective Equipment , uniforms, and station conditions relative to safety.
Mentor Committee
The Training Division staff strongly supports the Department's Mentor Program. The purpose of the program is to match experienced Department personnel with career-minded individuals who desire to enhance their fire service career and the fire organization.
Employee Recognition Committee
Physical Fitness Committee
Following the guidelines set in the Department's Physical Fitness Program, the Physical Fitness Committee is comprised of members from the Santa Clara County Fire Department. The committee is comprised of the following: one (1) Chief Officer, one (1) person from each of the three (3) platoons, one (1) person from the 40 hour staff, and one (1) alternate. Committee members serve for a period of two years. This committee makes recommendations to the administrative staff on program guidelines, assists in the administration of fitness testing, monitors Department fitness trends, and reviews applications for off-duty fitness programs prior to approval by the Fire Chief. For additional information, see Employee Health and Fitness.
The Training Division maintains a liaison for the Department with the American Heart Association, citizens, and community centers for CPR training. The Santa Clara County Fire Department handles all paperwork, including administrating of CPR cards. CPR instructors are assigned from the Department's list of instructors. All administrative documentation, testing, reporting materials, and mannequins are maintained through the Santa Clara County Fire Department's Training Division.
The Department's CPR Coordinator insures that instructors are re-certified every two years. The Department's Regional Faculty, credentialed by American Heart Association, certify these instructors. All line/office personnel are certified by CPR instructors within the fire department.
The Santa Clara County Fire Department conducts multi company drill tower exercises biweekly. A minimum of 3 in-service fire companies and a Chief Officer participate on a pre scheduled rotation. These mandatory drills are conducted on Saturdays between 0900 and 1200 hours weekly. Additional drill tower exercises involving individual and company performance testing are also conducted at this facility throughout the year.
Departments involved with automatic aid agreements with the Santa Clara County Fire Department are invited to participate in multi company evaluations on a regular schedule.
Nationally Registered EMT Program
The Nationally Registered EMT program is
issued to the Training Division by Mission College. All paperwork comes from the
college and is distributed to line/office personnel by the Training Division.
Broadcast videos are issued to individual fire stations via tape with a total of
24 one hour sessions. Final testing and proctor assessments are conducted by personnel
from other fire agencies throughout Santa Clara County.
Emergency Medical Technician - Defibrillator EMT-D
Administered through the
Training Division, the EMT-D is designed to maintain all first responder fire personnel
at this level. Skills checks are conducted biannually by internal paramedic examiners.
The Physical Fitness Program is established to enable all personnel to maintain a level of fitness to be able to safely perform their assigned functions and to reduce the probability and severity of occupational injuries and illnesses. The Physical Fitness Program is under the medical supervision of the fire department's employee health management team.
The Training Officers act as the staff liaison to the Santa Clara County Fire Department Honor Guard. Firefighters and company officers participate as Honor Guard members on a voluntary basis. Activities include parades, funeral services for present and retired Department members, and flag presentations at County and local government functions throughout Santa Clara County.
The Santa Clara County Fire Department maintains an extensive training library in each of its 16 fire stations. Additional library materials are located at Fire Department Headquarters in the Training Division and are available as reference materials to Department personnel for preparation for promotional examinations and research projects.
The Training Division manages recruitment, promotional examination, employee assessment centers, and probationary testing. Newly hired firefighters are placed on 18 month probationary periods upon successful completion of a 10 week recruit academy.
After the completion of the recruit academy, the probationary firefighter is required to complete the agency specific training and driver operator program. Testing is conducted at the completion of each module (or section of study). The workbook consists of five (5) modules and a company officer signs each module upon successful skill demonstration in the field. An additional final exam is administered at the completion of the probationary period.
The Probationary Workbook details this program.
Individual performance tests are conducted for each firefighter and company officer annually. The skills tested include, but are not limited to:
Driver operator skills
24' extension ladder
14' roof ladder aloft
Soft suction connections
Self Contained Breathing Apparatus (SCBA)
Ropes/Knots
Return-to-work skills exams
Hose evaluations
The Training Division sends personnel to specialized training on an ongoing basis.
Many classes are conducted with the "Train the Trainer" concept in mind.
Division staff members locate the classes, schedule attendance and support those
individuals who are sent as representatives of the Department. Further educational opportunities are available for all Department personnel through
County Fire's Tuition Reimbursement and matching funds programs.TRAINING/CONTINUED PROFESSION LIAISON
TRAINING RECORDS
Classroom Scheduling
The scheduling of the classrooms at Headquarters and
Sunnyoaks, as well as the
drill tower, are the responsibility of the Training Division.
Inventory/Maintenance
Training Structures
The Training Division determines the use of various structures for purposes of training
exercises.
A minimum of twenty (20) hours of training per month are required of each line staff employee. Hours are logged by company officers for all training conducted at the fire company level and by the Training Division staff for monthly and specialized training courses.
A training video is produced each month and distributed to all 16 fire stations, the maintenance shop, Fire Prevention, and Headquarters' administrative staff. The monthly training video may include manipulative skills information, safety information, Basic Life Support (BLS) and Advanced Life Support (ALS) protocol updates and tactical firefighting information.
The Santa Clara County Fire Department has 40 allotted positions for Volunteer Firefighters. The Volunteer Action Guide covers all aspects of the Volunteer Division. Each volunteer must complete annual skills checkoffs during a calendar year. These skills may be checked off by station company officers or the Training Division staff. All volunteers are re-tested annually on basic skills.
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