Current through Register Vol. XLI, No. 50, December 13, 2024
Section 87-8-3 - Minimum Training Levels for Rescue and Fire Fighting3.1. All firefighters certified by the Fire Commission prior to the effective date of this rule shall remain certified to the level previously granted by the Fire Commission.3.2. All active members and firefighters must always maintain current certification in first aid, CPR, and must have been trained in, at a minimum, Hazardous Materials Awareness. Additionally, all active members and firefighters shall have the training available to them to allow them to become compliant with the "NIMS Training Guidelines for West Virginia" as established by the West Virginia Division of Emergency Management.3.3. All active firefighters who perform automobile extractions must have completed an approved Vehicle and Machinery Rescue Operations Level curriculum (NFPA 1006 or 1670) or equivalent, and pass any and all testing required for certification. Any active firefighter who has completed the certification for firefighter 2 is deemed to have met this requirement and does not have to receive a separate training in Vehicle and Machinery Rescue Operations Level.3.4. All active firefighters must have completed an approved firefighter 1 curriculum, or equivalent, and pass any and all testing required for certification before responding to any fire, with the exception of responding to wildland fires over which the Department of Natural Resources or Division of Forestry has jurisdiction. 3.4.1. A person may serve as a probationary firefighter, at the discretion of the fire chief, for a period not to exceed five years.3.4.1.a. A probationary firefighter is required to be trained to a minimum as required in the modular training policy of the State Fire Commission and can operate as defined within said policy.3.5. At all times, all active fire line officers, excluding any training coordinator or safety coordinator, must have completed an approved Fire Officer 1 curriculum, or equivalent, and pass any and all testing required for certification as a Fire Officer 1. Additionally, all active members and firefighters shall have the training available to them to allow them to become compliant with the "NIMS Training Guidelines for West Virginia" as established by the West Virginia Division of Emergency Management.3.6. At all times, all active chief and assistant chief members must have completed an approved fire Officer 2 curriculum, or equivalent, and pass any and all testing required for certification as a Fire Officer 2. Additionally, all active members and firefighters shall have the training available to them to allow them to become compliant with the "NIMS Training Guidelines for West Virginia" as established by the West Virginia Division of Emergency Management.3.7. The Fire Commission, at all times, shall have an equivalency program to allow certification of fire officers in Fire Officer 1 and Fire Officer 2. Any person may apply to this program for certification in either Fire Officer 1, Fire Officer 2, or both. This program shall evaluate a person's practical knowledge and life experience within the fire service, and any previous training that person may have completed. If the person has demonstrated competency in the skills taught in these curricula, then the application shall be granted.3.8. All operators of fire department engines, tankers, aerials, and rescue trucks must have a Firefighter I certification, have a valid driver's license, and must have completed an approved Emergency Vehicle Operations Course (EVOC), or equivalent, and pass any and all testing required for certification. 3.8.1. Provided that, during maintenance or service of the vehicle, any person operating a vehicle to perform his or her job may operate that vehicle as long as that person meets all other requirements to operate that vehicle as set forth by statute.3.8.2. Provided that, nothing in this rule shall prohibit specialized support members or emergency medical response personnel from operating fire department squads, ambulances and/or emergency medical response vehicles, or prevent ancillary support members of fired departments from operating utility vehicles.3.8.3. Provided that, nothing in this rule shall prohibit an active member from operating a fire department vehicle for the purpose of training so long as he or she are accompanied by a certified operator in a non-emergency capacity.3.8.4. The Fire Commission may utilize the modular training program as an alternative to meet this requirement.3.9. All individuals who wish to instruct or test others in any approved curriculum for purposes of certification by the State Fire Commission must obtain and maintain a valid adult part-time teaching permit issued by the West Virginia Department of Education, or be a certified Fire Instructor through the West Virginia University Fire Service Extension.3.10. Departments may appoint at least one member of the department to serve as a training coordinator. It is the training coordinator's duty to ensure that all members achieve the appropriate certifications, and to oversee training within the department.3.11. Active and specialized support members that respond to hazardous materials incidents must have completed and achieved certification for training at or above the level of Hazardous Materials Awareness, and have passed any and all testing required for this certification. Active and specialized support members that operate at hazardous materials incidents must have completed and achieved, at the minimum, certification for training at the Hazardous Materials Operations level, as set forth by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration, or equivalent, and have passed any and all testing required for this certification.3.12. This section establishes the minimum level of training necessary for certification. Training beyond minimum requirements is voluntary. All training curriculums must be approved by the Commission pursuant to section 4 of this rules series if the training is completed for the purposes of obtaining certification by the Fire Commission.