The 2006 ALTS Conference offered a unique workshop for IAFF's local leadership: a Fire Ops 101: Train the Trainer.  This hands-on program gave 86 affiliate leaders the chance to understand firsthand what goes at a Fire Ops event by experiencing it through the eyes of both the instructor and the participant. Affiliate leaders were encouraged to think about their audience when designing a Fire Ops program and to remember foremost that they are not teaching their elected officials how to be a fire fighter, but teaching them about the risks and challenges behind the job.  The Fire Ops 101: Train the Trainer, held November 9-10, kicked off the 2006 ALTS Conference and was the first time the IAFF held this special training program.

“We learned a lot about what we can and can't do and addressing some of the issues behind the event,” says Ken Pravetz, President of the Virginia Beach Professional Fire Fighters, Local 2924. “I saw that it's huge undertaking and it was good to talk to people who had put the event on.”

The Train the Trainer event was set up to allow local leaders to experience all the aspects of an event, from registration to debriefing.  On Friday evening, participants walked through registration, a medical check and gear size-up.  They were assigned to a group for the next day (red, blue, yellow or green) and met their group wrangler.  Participants also got a chance to talk with IAFF staff and watch footage of past Fire Ops events to learn more about the logistics of the event.

The next morning, affiliate leaders gathered at the Atlanta Fire Department Training academy for the main event.  Two people from each group suited up in bunker gear and went through the medical examination, playing the role of ‘elected officials.' After registration and opening address, participants met with wranglers to discuss the event in depth.  When the dispatch came in, the groups were ready to respond.

The Atlanta Professional Fire Fighters planned four scenarios for participants to rotate through: truck operations, engine operations, search and rescue and EMS . Affiliate leaders were able to see a Fire Ops event unfold and learned firsthand the challenges behind registration, rotating groups, executing scenarios and making sure your message comes across.  One of the most valuable elements of the event was a discussion panel, where participants were able to tap into the knowledge of fellow leaders who had experience planning and implementing Fire Ops 101.  This was the first time the IAFF offered in-depth instruction on implementing Fire Ops 101 and the response proved it to be a success.