Everyone realized this is a major undertaking for the State of Oklahoma to be up and ready for the national program.  Careful deliberation on establishing minimum standards for different levels of responders will be done.  It is widely realized that there is a price tag attached to any such program.  Participants plan a standing committee composed of fire chiefs and other stakeholders to determine these standards.  Funding will also be addressed.

Among their many standards, they address several relevant aspects of firefighter training, including:

• NFPA 1000 - Standard for Fire Service Professional Qualifications Accreditation & Certification
• NFPA 1001 - Standard for Fire Fighter Professional Qualifications
• NFPA 1021 - Standard for Fire Officer Professional Qualifications
• NFPA 1041 - Standard for Fire Service Instructor Professional Qualifications
• NFPA 1051 - Standard for Wildland Fire Fighter Professional Qualifications
    NOTE: US Dept of Forestry also has a separate Red Card certification for Wildland Firefighting
• NFPA 1401 - Firefighter training record-keeping standards
• NFPA 1402 - Guide to building fire service training centers
• NFPA 1403 - Standard on live fire training evolutions
• NFPA 1404 - Standard for fire service respiratory protection training
• NFPA 1410 - Standard on training for initial emergency scene operations
• NFPA 1415 - Standard for fire service vehicle operations training program
• NFPA 1670 - Standard on Operations and Training for Technical Search & Rescue Incidents
• NFPA 1710 - Standard for the Organization and Deployment of Fire Suppression,
                          Operations, Emergency Medical Operations, and Special Operations
                           to the Public by Volunteer Fire Departments
• NFPA 1720 - Standard for the Organization and Deployment of Fire Suppression
                          Operations, Emergency Medical Operations, and Special Operations
                           to the Public by Volunteer Fire Departments

IFSAC is a peer-driven, self-governing system that accredits both fire service certification programs and higher education fire-related degree programs.  Through work done by IFSAC, usually a single entity is designed as the official certification body.  In the case of Oklahoma, OSU - Fire Service Training has been both the primary provider of firefighter training for Oklahoma historically and the official IFSAC certification body to administer certification tests for Oklahoma. They were re-accredited last year by IFSAC.  As reflection of Oklahoma's rich heritage in the fire service community, IFSAC is also headquartered in Stillwater at Oklahoma State University.  During COFT's 2007 Training Task Force workshops, there was a full presentation on IFSAC and thorough discussion of recent changes in operation of OSU - FST's procedures for testing.
 

In the intervening time since the Attack on America, they have worked to refine various operational guidelines. Working groups with individuals and organizations from many different federal, state and local entities, they have formulated:

• the National Response Plan
• the National Incident Management System [NIMS]

For this reason, numerous training providers offer Wildland Firefighting (this year, funding makes it possible for some volunteers to take it at no cost) including a special statewide school know as Wildland Round-up which many organizations help put on.  In addition for this exact reason, the COFT Council has added Wildland Firefighting to the Additional Optional Training list for its Training Tax Credit program for volunteer firefighters.

Historically, many Oklahoma wildfires occurred in completely rural areas and volunteer fire departments primarily responded.  In recent years, much blending of the urban-rural interface has occurred with more and more homes as well as businesses being built in heavily wooded areas.  In addition, conditions have been such that very large wildfires have developed here in Oklahoma (and elsewhere).  These necessitate many departments working together and many metropolitan fire departments are becoming more and more involved in fighting wildfires traditionally handled by others.  Fighting wildland fires is not always the same as fighting structure fires, so specific training helps.

Consequently, COFT's 2007 Training Task Force on career firefighter training realized the need for more Wildland Firefighting training for career firefighters.

One of the best ways to minimize these injuries and deaths is through training, both classroom and actual driving classes.  These special classes are offered through OSU - Fire Service Training and through many of the Career Technology Centers.  This is another course which the COFT council added to the 2007 Additional Optional Training in the Training Tax Credit programs for volunteer firefighters.  For 2008, OSU - Fire Service Training is also including a module on Emergency Vehicle Driving Training in the Fire Fighter I curriculum due to the importance of this topic.  Consequently to reflect this, EVDT is elevated to the Top Equivalency Chart for the Tax Year 2008.

Again, COFT's 2007 Training Task Force feels this is an important course for career firefighters.