Training Bureau

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Asst Chief
Kevin O'Connor

The Training Bureau is under the direction of Assistant Chief Kevin O’Connor. It is organizationally divided into two areas of training with a total Bureau staff of One Battalion Chief, four Captains, two Lieutenants, nine Firefighters, and five non-uniform staff. The Mission of the Training Bureau is to ensure that all members of the Division of Fire possess the necessary skills and abilities to safely and effectively deal with any situation they might encounter. This responsibility begins the day the new firefighters are hired and continues throughout their careers.

Battalion Chief
Robert Babb

Fire Training

Battalion Chief Robert Babb heads the Fire Training Section. B/C Babb has a permanent staff of three Captains, one Lieutenant, seven Firefighters. Additional temporary staffing typically includes three Lieutenants and five firefighters. This section provides fire training for all 1,550 Division members

Captain
Ian Garriot

Apprenticeship Training

Captain Ian Garriott heads the Apprenticeship Training section. Captain Garriott has a permanent staff of one Lieutenant and two firefighters. The Apprenticeship Training section is responsible for all aspects of the 36-month Apprenticeship Program, including test development, test administration and all associated record-keeping. Over the course of the past fifteen years the apprenticeship program graduated 586 firefighters. Those firefighters have received a “Certificate of Completion of Apprenticeship” from the United States Department of Labor.

Captain
David Bernzweig

Officer and Specialized Training

Captain David Bernzweig heads this section, which is comprised of In-Service, Officer and Specialized training. Captain Bernzweig is assisted by one permanently assigned firefighter. This section facilitates the delivery of a wide variety of courses. This section provides ongoing training that helps to keep our personnel up to date on the most current emergency response techniques, and enables them to respond safety and knowledgeably to any emergency.

Captain
Jim Lewis

Recruit Training

Captain James Lewis heads the Recruit Training section. Captain Lewis has a staff of four permanently assigned firefighters. During the 30 week recruit training period, three lieutenants and several additional firefighters are transferred to this section to assist in supervising and training the recruit firefighters. The recruits are certified as a Firefighter II, EMT-Basic, Fire Safety Inspector, and receive excessive training on Divisional Operations. The Recruit Training staff graduated two recruit classes of new firefighters in 2011.

Lieutenant
Doug Sanderson

Rescue Traininig

Lieutenant Doug Sanderson heads the Technical Rescue Section. Lieutenant Sanderson is augmented with personnel from active fire/rescue companies who help him present Basic Technical Rescue Training, Special Operations Rescue Training and Continuing Education for Rescue Technicians, all of which is based on NFPA 1670. In 2010, the Rescue Companies utilized the new tower at the Training Complex to practice a simulated high angle rope rescue of a window stuck on the side of a high rise building.

Training Bureau

Columbus Division of Fire
Training Bureau
3639 Parsons Avenue
Room #217
Columbus, OH 43207
Office : (614)-645-6360
Fax : (614)-645-3214
Email : Training Bureau
Hours:
Daily: 8:00 AM - 4:00 PM

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