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U.S. Department of Energy awards second $2.5 million grant to University of Nevada, Reno Fire Science Academy


12/15/04 - The University of Nevada, Reno Fire Science Academy has been awarded $2.5 million for the second consecutive year to continue its training course for municipal and rural firefighters on terrorism-related emergencies -- the nation’s first program of its kind.


The U.S. Department of Energy grant will support the academy’s 2005-2006 training classes which teach urban and rural firefighters skills that can help them successfully respond to incidents associated with terrorist threats. The grant provides scholarships covering tuition, travel, lodging and meals for the four-day program.


"More than 700 firefighters across the country will participate in our program this year," said Denise Baclawski, executive director of the University’s Fire Science Academy . "We have already had 290 students participate with this year’s grant, and we’ve received a total of 1,500 applications from all 50 states."


"Our clients -- whether they are individual firefighters or industrial teams -- are looking for us to be the graduate school of emergency-response training," said Baclawski. "We believe we have the flexibility, experience and academic credentials to provide the kind of tailored instruction they’re seeking."


Pioneering the national program is U.S. Sen. Harry Reid of Nevada, who has worked to ensure that the country’s firefighters and emergency responders have the proper training and needed equipment.


The core module of the program covers methods for dealing with flammable-liquid fires, sabotage and damage to "soft targets," including truck and rail terminals, pipeline transfer stations and other industrial facilities. This portion includes live-fire training exercises.


George Quick, the University’s assistant director for programs and operations at the academy oversees the live-fire and field activities. He served in the United States Marine Corps for more than 19 years, moving up in the ranks from firefighter to chief officer. Quick works closely with Wes Simpson, chief of ExxonMobil in Billings , Mont. , who voluntarily provides industrial expertise to this module. For more than a decade, ExxonMobil has been a key supporter of the University’s program.


"Wes added tremendous credibility to the class," said David Vitwar, academy student and member of the Colorado Springs Fire Department. "His experience in industry and municipal fire fighting was very valuable."


In addition to the live-fire training, the program includes a unique module of classroom sessions in the social and behavioral sciences which explore the history of terrorism, psychology issues related to a terrorist attack and the philosophy of extremists. This section is taught by University faculty members.


Victoria Follette, professor of clinical psychology and chair of the University’s psychology department, has studied and written extensively on post-traumatic stress disorder.


"Their willingness to share some of the heartache of the job with an ’outsider’ is touching -- and I hope I am able to give them a few tools for dealing more effectively with a job that will always be stressful," she said.


Other University faculty teaching the classroom segment are Theodore Oleson, Jr., lecturer in the economics department; Markus Kemmelmeier, assistant professor of sociology; Colleen Murray, director of the interdisciplinary doctorate program in social psychology as well as associate professor of human development and family studies; James Richardson, professor of sociology and judicial studies, and director of the Grant Sawyer Center for Judicial Studies; and Leonard Weinberg, political science professor.


Enrollment in the course, "Responding to Terrorist Incidents in Your Community: Flammable-Liquid Fire Fighting Techniques for Municipal and Rural Firefighters," at the University of Nevada, Reno Fire Science Academy is by application only and is open to all U.S. firefighters 18 years and older with National Fire Protection Association 1001, Firefighter Level I or equivalent and two years of practical experience.


The academy has trained firefighters and emergency-response personnel from businesses and government agencies from all 50 states and nearly 40 countries. Businesses include a number of FORTUNE 500 companies from many industries, including petrochemical, mining, energy and pharmaceutical.


As one of the finest emergency response-training programs and facilities in the world, the University’s Fire Science Academy includes a state-of-the-art training campus that provides scheduled courses as well as customized training. The academy includes training grounds and props for industrial fire fighting, hazardous materials, aircraft, structural, mine rescue and extrication exercises, as well as multimedia classrooms and lecture auditorium. For more information about training programs offered by the academy, contact the University of Nevada, Reno Fire Science Academy, (775) 754-6003, 1-800-233-8928; email: fireacademy@unr.eduor visit: www.fireacademy.unr.edu.