The William Cameron Engine Company is a learning organization. WCEC members undergo continuing training and professional development actives on a regular basis. WCEC sponsors and hosts various training opportunities for area firefighters and EMTs, which are published on our website calendar.
Firefighter Training
Currently, in Pennsylvania, basic training for volunteer firefighters begins with a set of four courses together referred to as the Essentials of Fire Fighting Module or EBM : Introduction to the Fire Service (16 hours), Fireground Support (32 hours), Exterior Firefighting (40 hours), and Interior Firefighting (48 hours). All volunteer firefighters at WCEC are expected to complete the EBM.
In order to provide interior firefighter duties at building fires all personnel, regardless if career or volunteer, are required to be certified through ProBoard or IFSAC to – at minimum – Firefighter I.
Once volunteers have completed the EBM sequence, they are eligible to take dozens of state-regulated courses that teach various advanced firefighting skills, available from the Pennsylvania State Fire Academy as well as numerous Community Colleges who provide programs for the Commonwealth, including Bucks County Community College and Harrisburg Area Community College.
Examples of advanced courses include:
- Hazardous Materials Operations
- Vehicle Rescue
- Pump Operations
- Truck Company Operations
- Rope/High Angle Rescue
- Basic Wildland Firefighter
WCEC generally covers the costs of fire training courses for its volunteer members from company funds. WCEC also conducts its own weekly training sessions most Tuesday nights starting at 7:00pm at which firefighters practice basic and advanced skills acquired through courses. The Tuesday sessions also often include operational debriefing sessions on the previous week’s incidents.
Captain Steve Leauber, WCEC training officer, oversees and coordinates fire training activities.
EMT Training
EMT Course Announcement (WCEC_EMT_Course_2015-2016)
Start date: September 22, 2015
End date: March 8, 2016
Info/Application: http://www.hacc.edu/PublicSafetyCenter/EMS/EMT.cfm
All WCEC EMTs are required to be state-certified. EMTs acquire state certification by taking a 140-220 hour EMT class and then passing the PA Department of Health EMT exam which includes written and practical elements.
To maintain state certification, all PA EMTs are required to participate in continuing education courses.