Silver City Fire Department
TRAINING DIVISION

Click for information on our Fitness Training Program

Training is an ongoing process. Each shift commander is in charge of training for his shift. The Fire Departments Training Coordinator for fire suppression and the EMS Training Coordinator set the training schedules for the Shift Commanders to follow. The department also operates an annual Fire Academy. The academy was officially started in 1999 with the approval of the New Mexico State Fire Marshals Office, which is the governing body of all NM Fire Departments. They set the guidelines, training requirements and standards for all Fire Departments and Fire Districts to follow.

 Silver City Fire Dept Sub Station
The Training Academy meets all State and National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) requirements. Fire cadets and volunteer firefighters enrolled in the academy receive training in Firemanship 1. The academy begins in July and runs through December with a graduation ceremony following completion of the academy. Interested recruits or volunteers can contact the Silver City Fire Department at 538-2591 and ask to speak to Battalion Chief (Training Officer) Tim Heidrick.

Courses and instructions offered in the academy include: Fire Behavior, Incident Command, Structural Firefighting, Critical Incident Management, Haz-Mat, Urban Interface, Arson Detection, and Emergency Apparatus Defensive Driving. Recruits also participate in a Health and Fitness Exercise Program. Good physical conditioning is stressed and promoted during the Academy Training. The Silver City Fire Department enters each year with new goals and challenges. We will strive to improve the level of training offered and improve the caliber of instructors on the training pad and in the classroom.

Fire Department personnel are required t maintain certifications in all of the areas listed above. In addition, many of our staff are paramedics and IV technicians. Some of our staff also attend supervisor and management classes.