Training Standards

Training is among the highest of priorities for the Big Bear Fire Department.

Training is provided to all members of the department from shift-level drills, to bi-weekly paid call training and multi-agency training evolutions with our neighboring departments. Fire and rescue training is taken from the California State Fire Marshal Curriculum and EMS training is based on county protocols, and American Heart Association Standards.

The training provided to a modern day fire fighter is as diverse as the types of calls the Fire Department responds to. One moment the fire fighters could be fighting a structure fire and the next, they could be assisting an elderly person into a wheel chair. From the moment fire fighters are hired, until the day they retire, they are immersed in training. The numerous dangers of a superheated atmosphere inside of a structure fire are not ideal for "on the job training'' sessions. The Training Division's goal is to provide valuable training before a fire fighter is presented with the many different types of emergency and non-emergency calls for service. Some of these training topics include:

• Structural Fire Fighting
• Vehicle Fire Fighting
• Wildland Fire Fighting
• Vehicle Rescue
• Hazardous Materials
• Low / High Angle Rescue
• Confined Space

Please feel free to contact the Training Division with any questions or concerns. As a modern fire department, we find that "thinking outside of the box" helps to accomplish all of the department's goals in an efficient and effective manner.