The state regulatory agency which oversees fire departments has suspended some of its skills training while state standards are updated.
The Georgia Firefighter Standards and Training Council updates its training standards every five years for the state's 659 fire departments.
One of the major areas being revamped is an expansion of hazardous material training for entry-level firefighters.
Lyn Pardue is executive director of the Georgia Firefighter Standards and Training Council. He says this will now go beyond the simple identification of hazardous materials.
"These entry-level firefighters will also be equipped with the knowledge of how to go divert the hazardous material. A good example would be an overturned gas truck. They would be trained to dam, or dike, or divert the product to lessen the impact on the environment".
While standards are being freshened, the agency will still conduct checks of personnel and maintenance records for departments statewide. Individual core skills training is expected to pick-up again in September.
The Georgia Firefighter Standards and Training Council updates its training standards every five years for the state's 659 fire departments.
One of the major areas being revamped is an expansion of hazardous material training for entry-level firefighters.
Lyn Pardue is executive director of the Georgia Firefighter Standards and Training Council. He says this will now go beyond the simple identification of hazardous materials.
"These entry-level firefighters will also be equipped with the knowledge of how to go divert the hazardous material. A good example would be an overturned gas truck. They would be trained to dam, or dike, or divert the product to lessen the impact on the environment".
While standards are being freshened, the agency will still conduct checks of personnel and maintenance records for departments statewide. Individual core skills training is expected to pick-up again in September.
