Command Training Center

            The CTC is responsible for the training and certification of all the Command Officers at the department.  The CTC’s training methodology has been recognized as a model for fire services across the nation as originally developed by Alan, John, and Nick Brunacini through the Blue Card Incident Command System.  The Blue Card system is designed to first instruct and then certify Fire Officers who serve in the role of Incident Commander or an Incident Management Team (IMT) member that supervises and manages emergency and hazard zone operations for everyday, local NIMS Type 4 and Type 5 events (up to a 5th alarm local & regional response level). The Incident Command Standard is based on the Standard 8 Functions of Command:  Assumption, Confirmation and Positioning of Command, Situation Evaluation – Size Up, Communications, Deployment, Management Strategy and Incident Action Planning, Organization Review, Evaluation and Revision Continue, Transfer and Terminate Command.  Blue Card is intended to meet the training needs of fire officers with a minimum of 5 years of field experience currently working in the role of Battalion Chief (or higher ranking officer), Company Officer, or someone trying to promote into either position. 

 
Training Phase

            The Incident Command - Hazard Zone Management Standard requires that each student taking the course receive no less than 40 hours of classroom or on-line training and instruction on the 8 Standard Command Functions and 8 hours of training (classroom or e-based) on Incident Safety Operations. Once the student has successfully completed the 48 hours of training, they will be certified in meeting the Incident Command general knowledge requirements.  The Blue Card curriculum instructs the student in detail on the general knowledge and skills requirements that are defined in Section/Chapter 3 of the Incident Command Standard. Throughout the course, the students will be comprehensively instructed and coached on the 8 standard command functions and the first 5 command levels of a Type 4 & 5 Incident Management System (IMS).  The training curriculum includes: Standard 8 Functions of Command, Regional Standard Operating Procedures, Tactical Operations Templates for 5 local occupancy types and High fidelity structure fire simulations.  The training portion of the course merges all of the local resources; SOP’s, tactical systems, and the standard operational action required for conducting safe and effective locally-based operations. The simulation-based training provides the students with valuable hands-on training and experience for high-risk, low-frequency events.  The program also includes instruction and training that establishes the best standard practices for the five most common incident occupancies in the local community. The standardization of the Strategic and Tactical requirements for these building types produces consistent, safe, effective, and well-managed incident operations throughout the local region. 

 
Evaluation & Testing Phase

            Once the student has successfully completed the required hours of the training phase of the program, they will be eligible to participate in the evaluation/testing phase of the program. The evaluation phase of the program is a fairly intense, hands-on process that requires 2 to 3 eight-hour days to complete (depending on class size). Each evaluation day consists of running 8 to 10 simulations with brief incident reviews conducted between each simulation.  Students will be evaluated on the following command/IMT positions: Initial On-Scene Officer Incident Commander (IC), Incident Management Team (IMT),  MemberSector/Division/Group, and Supervisor/Safety Officer.  The evaluation process incorporates the use of high-fidelity structure fire simulations that represent the 5 major occupancy types in the local area. This training and evaluation medium provides an environment that incorporates the local SOPs and the resource/response profile of the local area/region.  Evaluation benchmarks (knowledge and skills requirements for each command level position) are based on the 8 standard functions of command as well as the proper utilization of the local resources, tactical guidelines, and SOP’s.  The Incident Command - Hazard Zone Management Standard Certification requires that each student successfully pass evaluation on at least 2 command/tactical level positions for each of the 5 simulations. Each student must also be evaluated on at least one of the IC positions for each simulation.  Once the student has successfully passed all of their simulation evaluations, they will be eligible to take the Incident Command Certification written exam.

 
Testing Center

           Those individuals who have completed the classroom or online portion of course and are in need of the practical testing requirement may contact the fire department for scheduling use of the training center.  Please contact Battalion Chief Mark Hart via e-mail at mhart@wrtfd.org.

             
Photos of the CTC being constructed