FIRE OPS TOOLKIT
Real FIRE OPS 101 Events
Nothing else gives your elected officials a taste of the fire service like experiencing FIRE OPS 101. This day shows them the smoke, the sweat, the adrenaline rush and the physical stress and strain you face on your daily job, all while exposing them to the complex issues of the fire service, like staffing, adequate equipment, and presumptive health. Spending a hands-on day as a first responder is one of the most effective ways for your elected officials and your local media to learn about your job.
March 21-22, 2019
Smoke, sweat and saving lives – a story from a FIRE OPS 101 held in Richland, WA
A FIRE OPS 101 run by the Washington State Council of Fire Fighters and the IAFF 7th District was held at the Volpentest Hazardous Materials Management and Emergency Response (HAMMER) Federal Training Center on March 21 and 22 in Richland, WA. Reporter Olivia Sullivan published a story “Smoke, sweat and saving lives: Firsthand experience at Fire Ops 101” on Federal Way Mirror to get a feel for the demanding, dangerous and dedicated life of a firefighter. Watch the video and read the complete story…
June 8, 2018
FIRE OPS 101 held at the USCM 86th Annual Meeting in Boston, MA
The IAFF, in conjunction with the Boston Fire Department and Local 718 successfully conducted a FIRE OPS 101 on June 8, 2018 in Boston, MA for U.S. Mayors attending the 86th Annual Meeting of the United States Conference of Mayors (USCM) to Feel the Heat as a fire fighter for the day. A total of 37 mayors participated in the series of four firefighting scenarios.
View the 2018 USCM FIRE OPS Media Coverage.
May 30, 2018
Las Vegas Firefighters – IAFF Local 1285 hosted a FIRE OPS 101
Las Vegas Firefighters – IAFF Local 1285 hosted a FIRE OPS 101 on May 30, 2018. City leaders including Councilman Steve Seroka participated in this event to have one-day experiece as a fire fighter.
View the FIRE OPS footage from the City of Las Vegas Government on Facebook.
October 18, 2017
Greensboro officials, lobbyist learn from fire training experience
Greensboro Fire Department hosted a FIRE OPS 101 event for the public officials and lobbyists who entered a smoke-filled building to get a taste of firefighters go through at the Public Safety Training Facility on Wednesday October 18, 2017 in Greensboro, NC.
View the News & Record’s complete story and media coverage of this event.
July 9, 2017
Elected Officials’ Day as a Fire Fighter in Des Moines, IA
The International Association of Fire Fighters, in conjunction with IAFF Local 4, the Iowa Professional Fire Fighters Association and the Des Moines Fire Department successfully conducted a FIRE OPS 101 event on Sunday, July 9, 2017. More than a dozen state and provincial lawmakers and policy makers were able to Feel the Heat as a fire fighter for the day during the Midwestern Legislative Conference (MLC) in Des Moines, Iowa.
View the photos and media coverage from this event
June 23, 2017
U.S. Mayors participated in FIRE OPS 101 in Miami Beach, FL
The IAFF, in conjunction with the Miami Beach Fire Department and Local 1510, successfully conducted a FIRE OPS 101 for mayors attending the 85th Annual Meeting of the United States Conference of Mayors (USCM). The FIRE OPS was held at Fire Station #3 in Miami Beach, Florida. More than 25 U.S. mayors were able to Feel the Heat as a fire fighter for the day.
View the photos and media coverage from this event.
May 31, 2017
FIRE OPS 101 held at Pasadena Fire Department, CA
On May 31, 2017 Pasadena Fire Department at City of Pasadena, CA held a Fire OPS 101 event for the community stakeholders to have a glimpse of a daily life of fire fighters.
View the photos taken at the event by Jamie Nicholson.
February 27, 2017
Advanced Recovery Systems Staff FIRE OPS 101 at MFRI in College Park, MD
The IAFF, in conjunction with the Prince George’s County Professional Firefighters and Paramedics Association – IAFF Local 1619 and Prince George’s County Fire/EMS Department, conducted a FIRE OPS 101 on Monday, February 27, 2017 at Maryland Fire and Rescue Institute (MFRI) in College Park, MD. This FIRE OPS 101 event took place before the opening of the IAFF Center of Excellence for Behavioral Health Treatment and Recovery in Upper Marlboro, Maryland.
View photos on the Facebook.
June 24, 2016
IAFF, PFFUI, and Local 416 hosted a FIRE OPS 101 event before the USMC in Indianapolis, IN
The IAFF in conjunction with the Professional Fire Fighters Union of Indiana (PFFUI) and Indianapolis Local 416 hosted a FIRE OPS 101 on Friday June 24, 2016. The event took place before the start of the 84th annual United States Conference of Mayors (USMC) in Indianapolis, IN.
View photos on the Facebook and photos on the Flickr.
Read Mayor’s Day as a Fire Fighter. Read more stories and watch videos from the media coverage.
May 3, 2016
NYSPFFA hosted a FIRE OPS 101 event in Latham, NY
Tuesday, May 3, 2016, the New York Professional Fire Fighters Association (NYSPFFA) and the Albany Permanent Professional Firefighters Association hosted a FIRE OPS 101 event at the Colonie Municipal Training Center in Latham, NY to provide state and local elected officials with a real-left experience of firefighting as a fire fighter.
Read the story at TWC News web site. View the story and photos at Times Union web site. Find more story from the Record web site and watch the news and video on ABC News10 in Albany.
April 10, 2016
FIRE OPS 101 hosted by New Bedford and Fall River Fire Departments
Sunday April 10, 2016, city majors, new reporters, and officials took part in the hands-on experience of the FIRE OPS 101 program hosted by New Bedford and Fall River Fire Departments in Fall River, MA.
Read the story by By Mike Lawrence on the South Coast Today web site.
Watch the video from Eye Witness News WPRI 12 web site about Fall River and New Bedford mayors took part in this FIRE OPS 101 program.
October 24, 2015
D.C. Fire & EMS and IAFF Local 36 hosted a FIRE OPS 101 event
On October 24, 2015, D.C. Fire & EMS and IAFF Local 36 held the FIRE OPS 101 at the Fire and EMS Training Academy. D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowserwas invited to this event together with reporters, local officers, mostly city leaders to feel the heat as a day of being a fire fighter.
Chris Papst from ABC7 – WJLA-TV On Your Side who tells his experience of what firefighters do every day. Watch the video of the story by Chris Papst – D.C. Fire and EMS offers chance to be firefighter for a day at ABC7 WJLA-TV website.
Watch the FIRE OPS 101 video and the K2 Demo video.
September 21, 2015
BC Professional Firefighter’s Association Fire OPS 101 in Vancouver
On September 21, 2015, BC Professional Firefighter’s Association held a Fire OPS 101 in Vancouver at the Vancouver Fire Training centre. Community leaders, politicians, and members of the media were invited to participate in the Fire OPS 101 program. They got a chance to go through six different scenarios to get a experience of what firefighters do every day.
Watch the video of Penticton politicians, Global Okanagan reporter try firefighting drill at News At 5 Okanagan website.
Read the story of BC Professional Firefighter’s Association fire ops 101 by Tim Dickert from the News Talk 980 CKNW website.
August 25, 2015
BC Professional Firefighter’s Association Fire OPS 101 in Vancouver
On August 25 21, 2015, The IAFF, Prince George’s County, MD Local 1619 and the Prince George’s County Fire and Rescue Department FIRE OPS 101 in conjunction with the IAFF John P. Redmond Symposium and Dominick F. Barbera EMS Conference held a Fire OPS 101 event at the Maryland Fire and Rescue Institute. More than 25 of Elected officials, politicians, media reporters, and council members were participating in this event to get an experience of a day as a fire fighter.
Watch the video of Redmond 2015 FIRE OPS 101 – Maryland Fire/Rescue Institute at IAFF TV Channel – YouTube website.
View the photos from the Redmond 2015 FIRE OPS 101.
August 3, 2015
State Legislators Experience FIRE OPS 101 at NCSL Summit
More than 25 state legislators and legislative staff participated in a FIRE OPS 101 at the Bellevue (WA) Fire Department Training Center August 3 in conjunction with the National Conference of State Legislators (NCSL) Legislative Summit August 3-6, 2015 in Seattle, Washington. Read the full story…
Watch the video of FIRE OPS from IAFF – YouTube web site.
May 16, 2015
FIRE OPS 101 HAMMER Training Facility Washington
Firefighters at the Hammer Training Facility hosted a FIRE OPS 101 event on Saturday May 16, 2015 in Richland, WA. Local ABC’s Katherine Hessel put on firefighting gear along with Senator Dammeier and other officials to feel the heat and taste of firefighter dangerous job they do every day.
Watch the video of FIRE OPS training from the KVEW TV web site.
May 16, 2015
FIRE OPS 101 at Fall River, Massachusetts
The Fall River Fire Fighters, Local 1314 hosted a FIRE OPS 101 event on Saturday May 16, 2015 at the Fire Department headquarters and training facility in Fall River, MA. Fall River firefighters gave citizens a taste of their dangerous job they do every day.
Click here to view the photos taken from this FIRE OPS 101 event. Click here to watch the video of this event at the FRG Television web site.
May 5, 2015
FIRE OPS 101 at Albany, New York
The New York State Professional Fire Fighters Association (NYSPFFA) hosted a FIRE OPS 101 event on May 5, 2015 during the NYSPFFAlegislative conference held in Albany, NY. The IAFF FIRE OPS 101 program was a major success due mainly to the outstanding support of the Albany Local 2007. All participants were local officials and many media representatives as well. They gained a new level of admiration and respect for the dangers and intensity our profession demands daily.
Click here to view the photos taken from this FIRE OPS 101 event.
April 19, 2015
Elected Officials Step into Firefighters‘ Shoes In Merced County
FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) – North Valley residents may have seen smoke billowing into the sky on Sunday, but it was all part of a training burn.
Merced County Cal Fire set up a controlled structure fire for its new volunteers and students in the Merced College Fire Academy. It took place at a vacant home near Highway 59 and Lacava Road.
City council members from Merced and Atwater, along with Atwater’s mayor, also had the chance to go into the burning building in full gear. Firefighters say the goal was to show those elected officials how dangerous the job is and the importance of adequate staffing.
Watch the FIRE OPS 101 event video on ABC 30 Action News web site.
October 25, 2014
Washington D.C Fire Department hosted a FIRE OPS 101 event
On October 25, 2014, Washington D.C Fire Department and the IAFF hosted a FIRE OPS 101 event. Watch the FIRE OPS 101 event video on YouTube web site.
October 12, 2014
Reno Fire Department & Association Hosted Reno FIRE OPS 101
On Saturday, October 12, 2014, Reno Fire Department and the Reno Firefighters Association, IAFF Local 731 hosted a FIRE OPS 101 event during the weekend. Read the complete story on New4 web site. Watch the video on Reno Fire Department’s FIRE OPS 101.
October 5, 2014
Chillicothe Professional Firefighters IAFF Local 300 Hosted a FIRE OPS 101 Event
On Saturday, October 4, 2014, Chillicothe Professional Firefighters IAFF Local 300 hosted a FIRE OPS 101 event. As temperatures reached 1,200 degrees, city leaders dressed head to toe in firefighter gear sat in a burn trailer as flames rose around them to experience a day as a fire fighter. Read the “Fighting fire with education” story at the Chillicothe Gazette web site.
October 5, 2014
Fort Wayne Fire Department Training Academy Hosted a FIRE OPS 101 Event
On Saturday, October 4, 2014, Fort Wayne Fire Department Training Academy and local firefighters union hosted and sponsored a FIRE OPS 101 event. Fifteen politicians and reporters got an invite for the day to experience as a fire fighter. Read the complete story by Chris Meyer at the Journal Gazette web site.
October 3, 2014
Hamilton County – IAFF Local Locals 4444 and 4416 Hosted a FIRE OPS 101 Event
Hamilton County’s firefighter unions – IAFF Locals 4444 and 4416 hosted a FIRE OPS 101 event in October 2014 to put elected and appointed decision makers, community stakeholders and occupational health specialists in fire fighters’ boots to feel the heat and to have a one-day experience as a fire fighter. Read the “Participants feel the heat in fire training” article by Jeremy Brilliant, WTHR reporter.
September 13, 2014
Alameda County Fire Department and Firefighters Hosted 2014 FIRE OPS 101
ACFD and ACFFA LOCAL 55 bring to you an inside look at FIRE OPS 101, hosted at San Leandro Fire Training Tower. The event suits up elected officials and journalists, and lets them feel the heat that we face everyday.
Click to Watch the FIRE OPS video at YouTube.
August 18, 2014
IAFF Minneapolis Firefighter Local 82 Hosted a FIRE OPS 101 Event
On August 18, 2014, more than a dozen local and state leaders stepped into the boots of local firefighters to feel the heat and had a hands-on experience of what it’s like to be a fire fighter for a day through a FIRE OPS 101 program held by Minneapolis Firefighter Local 82 at Minneapolis Fire Academy, Minneapolis, MN. Click to read the story on CBS Minnesota web site – Firefighters Give State Leaders A Taste Of ‘FIRE OPS 101′.
Click to Watch the FIRE OPS video at YouTube.
July 12, 2014
FIRE OPS 101 at the IAFF 52nd Convention Cincinnati, OH
On July 12, 2014, the Cincinnati Fire Firefighters Union Local 48 hosted a FIRE OPS 101 program at the Mill Creek training facility in Millvale, OH. City and county leaders stepped into the boots of local firefighters to feel the heat and to have a hands-on experience as a fire fighter to get an up-close view of what it’s like to do their jobs.
February 3, 2014
Firefighters union hosted training exercises for city officials, media
Laden down in 100 pounds of bunker gear and crawling through a dark, smoky room on her hands and knees, City and Borough of Juneau City Manager Kim Kiefer wondered how she was going to find the mannequin, a mock fire victim, with a handheld thermal imaging camera, and then pull it out of the “burning” building.
Read complete story from the JuneauEmpire.com website. Click here to view the story on its mobile site.
June 14, 2014
FIRE OPS 101 St. Petersburg College (SPC), Clearwater, FL
On June 14, 2014 a FIRE OPS 101 program was held at St. Petersburg College, Clearwater, FL by Pinellas County Fire Chiefs Association, Pinellas Local Affiliates of IAFF and SPC. Click to read story – City leaders become firefighters for a day at My Fox Tampa Bay by Kim Kuizon. Read another story – Training offers chance to walk in firefighters‘ boots on Bay News 9 web site by Reporter Ashley Jeffery.
May 12, 2014
FIRE OPS 101 Volpentest HAMMER Training & Education Center in Hanford
On May 1, 2014 a FIRE OPS 101 program was held at the Volpentest HAMMER Training and Education Center in Hanford. It was an annual opportunity for decision makers to acquire a realistic taste of what firefighters do when they respond to incidents.
Read the complete story – Facing the fire and conquering my fears | FIRE OPS 101 – by Theresa De Lay, Bonney Lake-Sumner Courier-Herald Reporter.
May 2, 2014
FIRE OPS 101 Training in Richland, WA
RICHLAND, WA – Community leaders and lawmakers from across the northwest were at the Hammer Federal Training Facility in Richland, Washington Friday May 2, 2014 getting some hands-on experience in what it’s like to be a firefighter.
Watch the video from the NBC Right Now website. Read the complete story – KLEW reporter learns what it takes to be a firefighter at “FIRE OPS 101” Program from KLEWTV.com. Also read the story – Kathryn Haake: Pain, fear, heat all part of firefighter training at Missoulian website.