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10 <br /> Ricky Baker said that they are looking to provide better service in areas the City of Mebane <br /> has annexed. <br /> Slide #19 <br /> Fire District: North Chatham <br /> • Chief John Strowd <br /> • Hired 12 new career firefighters <br /> • Promoted 8 new lieutenants <br /> • Hired a Deputy Fire Chief-Matt Ingold <br /> • 1 Interim Asst.Fire Chief <br /> 3 new apparatus on order,2 engines and 101 ft.aerial platform <br /> • Lowered ISO rating from a Class 419E to 3l9E. <br /> 19 <br /> Commissioner Portie-Ascott asked how new volunteers are trained. <br /> Ricky Baker said a volunteer can get initial basic training from the department. He said to <br /> get further certifications, training must be done through the community colleges. <br /> Phillip Nasseri said it is 240 hours of training that is required. He said that Orange Rural <br /> and Chapel Hill can train themselves but everything else is through the community college <br /> system. He said they do basic skills checkoffs but to become a NC firefighter, they must go <br /> through community college. He said that standards change annually, and it creates a challenge <br /> to keep up. He said the more certified folks they can in, the more competitive they are with grants. <br /> He said that the State of North Carolina started a program to train high schoolers and they are <br /> only one class away from fire fighter certification when they graduate. He said this helps prepare <br /> career ready firefighters. He said that there was previously legislation that allowed 17-year-olds <br /> that have taken the courses to become certified and be employee-ready at the time of graduation, <br /> but that legislation has changed, and it would be helpful to get back in place. <br /> Chair Bedford asked Phillip Nasseri to send that information to Commissioner Portie- <br /> Ascott who is our representative to the NCACC. <br /> Kim Woodward and Jeff Cabe said they have also benefited from this program. <br /> Chair Bedford asked for clarification on the community college challenges. <br /> Phillip Nasseri said it is mostly a time issue. He said that they constantly lobby to get what <br /> they need because of how North Carolina fire legislation works. He said that there is a certification <br /> board that makes recommendations to the fire board. He said the certification board is made of <br /> elected officials and usually changes every five years or so. He said with that change comes <br /> changes in directives. He said there is a need to continuously educate legislators on fire <br /> department needs. <br /> Chair Bedford said that the county recently funded an expansion of Durham Tech so there <br /> should be more flex space for everyone to use. <br />