The International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF) has revealed it been awarded more than $8 million in federal funding to expand its HazMat response training programs – the largest grant in the union’s history.
The five-year award comes from the National Institutes of Health (NIH), through the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) and will bolster the IAFF’s Hazardous Waste Worker Training Program and HazMat Disaster Preparedness training programs.
It will also be used to develop new training materials to help modernize the fire service.
General President Edward Kelly commented: “The longstanding partnership between the IAFF and the NIEHS has been vital to many of the advancements in firefighter safety and training we’ve accomplished.
“This funding will ensure we continue to provide firefighters with the training, knowledge and tools they need to address hazardous materials emergencies and keep themselves and their communities safe.”
The IAFF and NIEHS have partnered to ensure firefighters have the capabilities to respond to HazMat emergencies through the union’s comprehensive training programs.
Under the previous five-year grant, the IAFF certified nearly 4,000 firefighters in HazMat emergency response. The additional grant money will allow the IAFF to train an additional 6,500 fire fighters over the next five years.
The award will also support the expansion of the IAFF’s new “Responding to Renewable Energy Emergencies” program. This comprehensive course, launched earlier this year, gives firefighters the tools to combat electric vehicle and other types of clean energy fires.
The IAFF has also spotlighted how it is poised to develop a first-of-its-kind program for implementing drone technology into the fire service.
This new program will provide comprehensive training on the optimal use of drone technology, as well as prepare participants for the Federal Aviation Administration’s remote pilot certification exam.
The IAFF has revealed it been awarded more than $8 million in federal funding to expand its HazMat response training programs – the largest grant in the union’s history.
