STATE FIRE MARSHAL’S OFFICE PROVIDES
FREE TRAINING FOR VOLUNTEER FIREFIGHTERS

Nearly 200 volunteer firefighters from throughout Florida will converge this week at the Florida State Fire College in Ocala to get the latest training on firefighting and investigative techniques dealing with potential threats from agribusiness chemical accidents to bombs.

Chief Financial Officer Alex Sink, who also serves as State Fire Marshal and oversees the fire college, said the annual Florida Volunteer Firefighter Weekend ensures Florida’s volunteer firefighters have access to regular training to help them better protect their communities and themselves. The event begins on Wednesday and continues through Sunday, April 15, at the Florida State Fire College in Ocala. This is the 14th annual Florida Volunteer Firefighter Weekend.

“In all that we do at the State Fire Marshal’s Office, our goal is to protect the lives of Floridians, especially those who work hard to protect our families, homes and communities,” said CFO Sink. “We want to do all we can to make sure they get back to the firehouse and their families safely after every call.”

Participating firefighters will be able to attend a choice of more than a dozen classes, from 8 to 40 hours each, on a variety of subjects ranging from basic fire skills to apparatus operations to decontamination for hazardous materials and mass casualty incidents. Housing is provided at the fire college, and participants get continuing education credits to help build their careers.

The Florida State Fire College is located at 11655 NW Gainesville Road in Ocala. For more information about this event, log on to www.MyFloridaCFO.com/sfm.