Oregon Firefighters Gather for Winter Fire School Training

Medford Fire DPSST — *Medford Fire Department Training*

Salem, Oregon- More than 250 firefighters from 121 departments across Oregon are set to attend the Winter Fire School at the Oregon Public Safety Academy in Salem. The two-day training event, taking place on Saturday, Feb. 22, and Sunday, Feb. 23, aims to enhance participants’ skills in protecting lives, property, and natural resources.

The event will feature nine National Fire Academy courses addressing key topics, including leadership and company operations, decision-making at structure fires, and the role of safety officers during emergency responses. Additional courses will cover community risk reduction, sprinkler plan review, structural collapse incident command operations, and wildland-urban interface incident operations.

In addition to classroom sessions, firefighters will participate in hands-on training exercises. The City of Dallas Fire & EMS Department will lead a vehicle extrication class, while staff from the Department of Public Safety Standards and Training (DPSST) will conduct skills training on forcible entry, hose handling, water map application, pumping station operations, and firefighter search and rescue techniques.

The Winter Fire School is an annual event organized by DPSST, offered free of charge. The training is scheduled over the weekend to accommodate volunteers, who make up the majority of Oregon’s fire service.