| Clandestine Lab Awareness Training |
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Methamphetamine drug labs are a multi-faceted problem. Clandestine meth production damages both the environment and public health. The laboratories produce poisonous gases and some six pounds of hazardous waste for every pound of finished methamphetamine. Most lab operators dispose of this waste by dumping it down household drains, in trash cans or dumpsters, along roadsides, and in yards. Every meth lab is a hazardous waste dump site that requires proper protective clothing and decontamination procedures for those responding to the scene and removing people or items from the lab.
The production process is a serious concern to firefighters because of the variety of incompatible chemicals used, in conjunction with heat sources. Many fires and explosions have occurred in these labs: the State of California reports that one of every six labs is discovered when it explodes or burns. Colorado's University Hospital reports that one of every seven patients in its burn unit is suffering from burns received during the meth manufacturing process. Yet many times, firefighters and EMT's respond to these calls without being aware of the hazards. This class will teach you how to recognize a meth lab, and will explain the hazards these labs present.
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Faculty: Lt. Lori Moriarty began her career in law enforcement with the Thornton Police Department in 1987. She was promoted to sergeant in 1994, and to lieutenant in 1995. In June of 2000, she was assigned as commander of the North Metro Task Force, a multi-jurisdictional undercover drug unit. She has been instrumental in implementing protocols for the safe investigation of meth labs and undercover drug operations, and has done numerous media presentations to educate the community on the hazards of meth labs. Lt. Moriarty's efforts for safety and public awareness won her national attention when the president's Office of National Drug Control Policy recognized her as 2001 Drug Commander of the Year. (Note: This workshop is also offered on Thursday afternoon.)
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Preparing for the Oral Interview (repeats on Saturday morning)
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This interactive workshop consists of a 10-minute videotaped oral interview for each participant, followed by an in-depth presentation of interview techniques, emphasizing proper conduct, appropriate communication, and a comfortable attitude. The presentation will include brief constructive segments of taped interviews, emphasizing positive reinforcement and identifying areas that need improvement. All of this will be followed by another videotaped interview for each participant so immediate improvements can be observed and discussed.
Each participant will also act as the interviewer, allowing her/him to experience the interview process from "the other side," which creates a better understanding of the process.
The workshop is designed to give participants immediate improvement in an area that is very subjective and difficult to quantify by education or etiquette. What is appropriate or "right" for each participant is reflected in their own judgment, rather than being dictated by rigid rules whose stressful memorization usually results in rigid behavior and stilted, unimaginative answers. Participants in the workshop quickly become bonded in their support of each other's strengths and their sensitivity to individual and suddenly observable weaknesses. The end result is a positive self-awareness and collective reinforcement that stay with participants for their entire career. Limited to 8 participants.
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Faculty: Captain James Spell and Captain James Overcash, Vail (Colorado) Fire Department, both have 25 years in the fire service. They both hold AAS degrees in fire science, and serve as fire science instructors for Colorado Mountain College and the Colorado Department of Fire Safety. Captain Spell has been a line officer for the past twelve years, and holds a B.A. in communications. Captain Overcash is a professional actor and public speaker.
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Leadership: Vision to Reality
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| This presentation discusses various aspects of effective leadership, such as courage, responsibility, leadership traits and leadership principles. It relates these aspects to reality at every level of the organization. The leadership principles of General Norman Schwartzkopf and General Colin Powell will be presented and discussed. |
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Faculty: George Goldbach is the former chief of West Metro Fire Rescue (Colorado), and previously served as director of the South Metro Fire Training Academy and as chair of the Public Service Department at Red Rocks Community College. The first 20 of his 40 years in the fire service were spent with the busiest companies of the New York City Fire Department. He has taught leadership and management classes around the country, and is co-author of The Fire Chief's Handbook.
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| The Fire Service in High Risk Neighborhoods |
| Targeted outreach programs can help identify local issues and solicit community involvement with the fire department in addressing these issues. This workshop will introduce participants to the principles of quality service and learn the steps in identifying a target community and implementing programs that will create a deeper understanding of community issues, as well as sharing to an extent in ownership of challenges that exist in the neighborhoods we serve. |
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Faculty: Kwame Cooper is a trainer and community consultant for the NFPA Center for High Risk Outreach, and the owner of Kwame Cooper Associates in Los Angeles, California.
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| "From the Bottom to the Top:" Elevator Systems and Rescue |
| This is an interactive, hands-on class providing an orientation to elevator systems, and tactics for rescue operations involving them. It begins with a one-hour classroom presentation, and then move off-site to look at both traction and hydraulic elevator systems. Limited to 20 participants. |
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Faculty: Vern Scott is a 22-year veteran of the Denver Fire Department, with most of that time spent on the department's technical rescue company. He has been assigned to the training academy for the past four years. He has taught this class at FDIC and Fire Rescue West, and it is taught to every recruit of the Denver and Aurora Fire Departments.
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| The LINK: Changing Kids' Lives Through Early Recognition of Dangerous Behaviors |
| Emergency service personnel are in a unique position to interact with juveniles during critical events in their lives. Your ability to recognize some "red flag" behaviors may change the future for some young person who might otherwise be headed down a path of personal destruction. Juveniles involved in firesetting, animal abuse, and domestic violence are likely perpetrators of violent acts as adults. Your early intervention may save the life of that child or others involved with him or her. The LINK is a simple interagency communication concept that brings resources and expertise together to affect at-risk youths in a positive manner. The program is low- to no-cost, simple to manage, and fits any organization. This workshop will identify the problem and give you concrete tools to begin implementing a solution. |
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Faculty: Kevin Hammons is a battalion chief and the fire marshal for the Aurora, Colorado, Fire Department. He holds a B.S. in organizational management and an M.A. in education. Kevin teaches for local colleges, insurance companies, and fire & police academies, and presents specialized training throughout the U.S. and around the world. He manages the AFD's bureaus of investigations, fire prevention & inspection, planning & development, and public education & community relations, as well as its juvenile firesetter program.
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| Assessment Center Training |
| This workshop will prepare participants for promotional processes that include an assessment center component. There will be a lecture about in-basket exercises, followed by facilitated practice by attendees. Limited to 25 participants. |
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Faculty: Manuel Navarro has been chief of the Colorado Springs Fire Department since 1994. He has been in the fire service since 1966, and spent 22 years with the Oakland, California, Fire Department, where he was Director of Training, and served as a command officer for the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake and the 1991 Oakland Hills fire. He holds an associate's degree in fire science, a bachelor's degree in political science, and is a graduate of the Harvard University Program for Senior Executives in State and Local Government.
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