More than 450 firefighters will spend next week at Bowling Green State University chopping holes in
vacant buildings, sifting through charred remains for evidence of arson and rappelling down the football
stadium as part of State Fire School.
"We welcome the public safety forces and are proud to provide the latest, valuable training in their
ever-changing and dangerous profession," said Kerry Gonzalez, assistant director of State Fire
School, which is part of BGSU’s College of Arts and Sciences. The university has coordinated the school
since 1974.
The firefighters represent 132 fire departments and brigades from Ohio and Michigan, as well as Ontario,
Canada. Fire instructors from Ohio, Florida, Kentucky, Indiana, South Carolina and New York will teach
the classes, which will be held from Monday to May 16.
Among the classes being offered are:
• Basic Fire Investigation: Fires are recreated in 10-by-10 pods and students will investigate the fire
scenes for arson.
• Rope Rescue: Students will be rappelling from the BGSU football stadium.
• Fire Tactics: A large house fire scenario taught by Toledo firefighters. Many of the students have
never been exposed to a live fire-training scenario.
• Street Smart Engine and Ladder Company Operations: Several structures, including a fraternity house
that has been donated by the university, will be used to simulate search and ventilation trainings.
These structures provide real-life experience learning about dangers of entering, rescuing and escaping
from structures.
• Tactical Emergency Medicine: A new class introduced to address some of the recent threats to
firefighters in the field. Topics include the role of the tactical medicine provider, medical threat
assessment and firearms use for a medic in the tactical environment.
Some firefighters are attending classes courtesy of grants from the Nationwide Foundation and other
funding sources. State Fire School is sponsored by Paratech, Ohio CAT, Lion Total Care and Sutphen Corp.