The International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF) has announced its Strive for Excellence Summit in Las Vegas, March 29-April 2.
The Summit is a brand new expanded training event which intends to bring together several legacy conferences into one premier program, adding hands-on classes designed to make members safer and more effective on the job.
According to the announcement, there will be hands-on training in fire ground operations, responding to the interface and mass casualty incidents.
There will also be the opportunity to earn the certifications you need for Fire Instructor 1 or confined space rescue and the chance to strengthen your union leadership skills.
General President Edward Kelly explained: “Strive for Excellence represents a real shift in the training opportunities that the IAFF offers our members.
“This isn’t just for leaders anymore, it’s for everyone.”
Delegates at the 57th Convention in Boston called for the creation of this summit to encompass the IAFF’s education and training.
Dr. Joshua Smith, Assistant to the General President for Education, Training and Grants offered his opinion: “We are creating a new event and expanding the training opportunities.
“If you are a rank-and-file member who needs your certifications, we will have that.
“We will also have hands-on training for rank-and-file members, so that will really benefit those who learn best by doing.”
There are more than 240 classes offered at Strive – and over 100 of them are brand new.
Several of them focus on the challenges of responding to lithium-ion battery incidents, an emerging hazard for many departments.
Hunter Clare, a 22-year veteran of the Peoria (Arizona) Fire Department represented by Phoenix Local 493, will be one of the instructors. He shared to the IAFF how he knows firsthand how dangerous renewable energy can be.
Clare shared: “We were dispatched to the McMicken Energy Storage facility in 2021. Hundreds of the system’s lithium-ion battery cells had experienced a catastrophic failure.
“As we were trying to de-escalate the situation, there was an explosion. It’s important that we learn from incidents like mine.
“Traditional protocols don’t work in these scenarios, so response plans must be adjusted accordingly.”
The course includes rapid shutdown basics, offensive and defensive tactics and resources that fire fighters can turn to for guidance, like the IAFF’s Energy Hazard Guide.
Clare continued: “We want firefighters to be able to leave class with tangible things that they can put into practice immediately to be safer on the job.”
The summit also will assist members with getting specialized certifications, like confined space rescue.
Students will learn the importance of preplanning, how to identify potential hazards and what to do about them. Hands-on demonstrations will be included to teach rescue skills and proper use of equipment.
CAL FIRE Local 2881 member Jeff Young is among the expert instructors.
Young said: “This training really is a unique opportunity. Union member instructors are training union members on a union-based site (water treatment plant).
“Participants will leave with rescue skills they can put to use right away.”
Young said instructors are coming from all different environments, from the high-rises of Chicago to the more mid-size buildings of Nashville and Phoenix.
As a result, someone on-site will be able to answer questions unique to each department.
To receive certification, students must attend the full 40-hour course (Sunday-Thursday).
The International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF) has announced its Strive for Excellence Summit in Las Vegas, March 29-April 2.
