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Commission approves trial of in-house fire academy for new hire
Summary
The commission approved a proposal to run an in-house fire academy for a newly hired firefighter, contingent on documentation and state approval; the chief said he is a state-certified instructor and the department has the equipment to host training.
The Michigan City Fire Merit Commission voted Aug. 3 to allow the fire department to conduct an in-house academy for a newly hired firefighter instead of waiting months for an external academy. The chief explained the department has the equipment, instructors and materials and said he is a state-certified Instructor III. “I'm the certified instructor 3 through the state of Indiana,” he said.
Commissioners discussed documentation and state approval requirements, including the need to follow state curriculum, keep records, and use outside evaluators for practical skills if necessary. One commissioner suggested bringing in outside instructors or reviewers to validate practical testing; the chief agreed that outside evaluators could be used for skills testing to maintain impartiality. The commission approved the in-house academy by voice vote and asked the chief to produce curriculum documentation and show how the program will meet state approval standards.
If the pilot succeeds, the department signaled it could expand in-house training to additional recruits, reducing delays and overtime costs caused by waiting for external academies.
