2020 MSFCA ALEXANDRIA FIRE OFFICER AND TRAINING OFFICER SCHOOL
February 7 - 9, 2020 | Arrowwood Resort | 2100 Arrowwood Ln NW, Alexandria, MN 56308

 All classes are approved for MBFTE reimbursement
Registration limited to 300 students!
Family Friendly Event!

Attendee Online Registration

Vendor Information

Tentative Schedule

Friday, February 7

6:00pm - 8:00pm: Registration for Early Arrivals
6:00pm - 10:00pm: Social Gathering & Vendor Show - Families welcome to attend!

Saturday, February 8

7:30am - 9:00pm: Vendor Show
8:30am - 5:00pm: Development Training Classes
5:00pm: Networking Event - Families welcome to attend!

Sunday, February 9

8:00am - 12:00pm: Development Training Classes
8:00am - 12:00pm: Vendor Show

Available Classes

12 Hour Classes Saturday & Sunday

Critical Thinking for Fire Ground Operations - Lance Ross & Trevor Hamdorf
This course is a hands-on course that will move you through many scenarios on the Incident Command City. Back by popular demand, this course is sure to cause you to think through many different scenarios that you could see as a firefighter or fire officer. The course will discuss tactics; discuss scene management, and safety. Sign up early as this class fills quickly!!

The First Five Minutes – Actively Developing the Skills You Need - Chief Ulie Seal and Chief Tom Schmitz
The goal of the First 5 Minutes is to provide the Firefighter, Fire Officer, Chief Officer, sitting in the right-seat of the first due unit an opportunity to develop the skills necessary to make the right decisions based on the application of the eight functions of Incident Command. A combination of presentations, case studies, and class participation will be used to assist the participant in developing these skills. The primary goal/function of a hazard zone management/incident command system is providing for the safety of the firefighters who are performing the tasks that stabilize the incidents problems. Most of the time this work takes place in a highly volatile, fast paced, IDHL atmosphere (a hazard zone). We are summoned to solve a problem and we usually create solutions to the problem through action. The initial size-up produces the information that becomes the basis for the incident strategy and action plan (IAP). Investing a small amount of time evaluating the incidents critical factors is extremely important to both beginning and on-going command and operational success as well as firefighter safety. Current, accurate, and relevant information obtained by the IC in the front end of the event will generally provide the information foundation for initial and on-going effective action.

Responding to an Act of Violence- Understanding the elements of NFPA 3000 - Greg Hayes
In today’s world, public safety agencies are challenged with planning for an act of violence response. Furthermore, the new NFPA 3000 (ps) standard governing these types of incidents has mandated skill sets for all public safety agencies to adhere to. Within this session, you will walkthrough a number of actual incidents reviewing the lessons learned.  Within the incident review, a statical analysis of the timelines will illustrate the need for additional tactical EMS training within the Fire Service. From there, you will learn basic tactical EMS skills for the injuries seen at these types of incidents. Finally, tactical EMS personnel movements will be practiced to ensure proper skills are developed.  

• Safety and risk cultures within organizations.
• Influences on safety culture and risk categories.
• Concepts, goals, and processes of risk management.
• The course incorporates facilitated student-centered methodologies including lecture, small and large group activities, and individual assessments.

Buddy to Boss - Chief BJ Jungmann and Chad Weinstein
The transition from firefighter to company officer is more complicated that merely transitioning “from buddy to boss.”  Front-line officers work side-by-side with those they lead, in close quarters in the firehouse and in the hot zone.  This program will engage current and prospective officers in discussions, exercises, and presentations designed to help them become the best leaders they can be. The goal is to cultivate an understanding what it takes to be a successful and impactful company officer.   Participants will learn leadership skills and concepts while working with peers from around the state in order to apply them to the real world of front-line supervision and mentorship.

Fire Ground Management - First Arriving Officer - Chief Curt Mackey and Chief Dale Specken
This course will develop company officers’ incident scene supervisory and management capabilities in structural fire operations.

• Key content includes discussion and scenario based practice on controlling and implementing the activities that need to be done to successfully deal with personnel performing the following operations: rescue and ventilation, confinement and extinguishment, water supply, exposures and defensive operations, salvage, overhaul and support.
• If your incidents seem to run themselves and you are not in control, then this course is for you.
• There will be video-based scenarios as part of the training.

8 Hour Classes Saturday

Instructor Continuing Education - Troy Walsh
Fire Instructors and Training Officers are an essential position within the Fire Service. If you are already a Training Officer/Instructor/Officer you already have the baseline to set-up successful trainings, but can we improve the final product with some simple tweaks? What can we do with the over stimulated firefighters that want to be a Training Officers or Instructors but do not meet the qualifications yet? This program will look at the learning environment, skill based-training beyond the classroom, developing training schedules, training safety officers, training instructors mentoring, county/region-wide training programs and a variety of other topics!

4 Hour Classes Sunday 

Technology for Officers - Firefighter Shea Chwialkowski 
Current fire service leadership requires a fundamental understanding of common technologies to maximize effectiveness. Tomorrow's most effective fire service leaders will be required to navigate and apply technology to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of their fire department. This presentation explores technological tools that fire officers and instructors can use to refresh and increase their crew's cohesiveness, training, and effectiveness. We will examine mobile apps, interactive and collaboration software, simulations, and much much more. When applied appropriately, these tools will allow you to better communicate, organize and coordinate with your people to build an informed and prepared team. The highlighted resources synchronize with a modern firefighter's technological expectations and align with how and where they interact with information. A dynamic and adept officer will utilize this knowledge to increase their firefighter's enthusiasm for contributing, learning, and developing. You will leave with an arsenal of ready-to-use, low-cost options for maximizing your training and leadership efficacy in today’s digital information age.   

ISO – The PPC program:  How to prepare and what is the impact to my community? - Randall Downs and Steve Ungericht
This 4 hour class will cover the ISO evaluation process. With every community being evaluated on a 5 year cycle, it will be important to stay on top of the requirements to achieve the best rating possible for your community. This class will focus heavily on the fire portion of the evaluation and will be good for new and existing officers.