IFA Convention
Greetings fellow Firefighters hope it’s been a fun summer enjoying family and friends. It’s another year that has just flown by with so many amazing events in the communities, it has been a challenge to find time to enjoy all the summer community events as it seems there is one every weekend.
The board met with the Fire Service Training Bureau to ask a few questions on the new ACADIS system. As we know we firefighters typically have reluctance to change even when changes are needed. So, they have made a change at the Bureau to improve personal documentation so you can find your certifications and to register for courses. The first growing pain is everyone on the department must personally register to the system; once that is done and you want to take a course or have a department training you must register for it personally. The second growing pain is that certification is controlled through ACADIS so that it follows the NFPA 1010, previously NFPA 1001, so it follows the progression of prerequisites for FF I. This requires us to have Hazmat Awareness & Operations to be certified in FF I. We also must meet requirements to meet the State certification of the Pro Board and IFSTA certification. I believe the ACADIS system has a plus, as you can go in and see where you were strong and where you need to study more on subject areas prior to retaking the exam (questions change each test). They also changed the training material to Jones & Bartlett this is a new process that has the tools to educate us; if we use them and not just read the book. In this resource there is an online portion that we are allowed to use it has quizzes and test throughout the courses. Then there is a portal that allows you to take a sample test to prepare you for the certification testing. Records at the Bureau shows students are not using the test prep portal this could help them with the certification testing. Please reach out to me for any questions that arise on this process.
Keep your calendars open and reach out to your legislators and encourage them to attend as we are working towards hosting an event at convention in Manchester for them. We have been successful in getting them to attend last four years and we could use everyone’s help in reaching out to invite them to 2026 Convention. This year we hope to include a water ball competition between the house and the senate on Thursday September 10th, after the women’s competition. After this event there will be a meet & greet with the board and discuss next years priorities. If you have a legislator that is interested, please invite them, we plan to have them arrive around 10:00 am.
Also, an exciting addition to this year’s convention is that we have partnered with Fire Department Coffee to support the association through T-shirt and FDC Coffee sales. FDC will be at the convention on Friday and Saturday, serving coffee samples and selling shirts and coffee.
As I close, I would like to encourage you to talk and listen to each other as we need to stay strong physically and mentally to provide outstanding service to protect our communities. So please take care of each other, if you have a concern for someone talk and listen to them and point it out to your department leadership, as we are strongest when we take care of our brothers and sisters in the service.
Kent Brix
IFA President