PHILIPSBURG:--- The Sint Maarten Fire Department is hosting from February 2 -13 a group of senior fire fighters from all 6 Dutch Caribbean islands. These senior fire fighters are taking part in an intensive training course that started in November 2014 and will end in June 2015. The training course will provide the participants with the skills to become a Professional Fire Officer on Duty (in Dutch: VakOfficier van Dienst). A Fire Officer on Duty is a manager responsible to lead fire fighters in their daily activities and responsible for the coordination of operational response to a major incident, whether it is at the harbor, airport or after an hurricane. The four core activities that are part of the course and will be tested are:
- Lead all fire fighters on the scene of a fire or an incident
- Coordination of multidisciplinary cooperation
- Leader of On Scene Command (COPI) and informing all relevant partners of the situation at hand
- Lead the fire fighters in their daily activities
The course consists of theoretical sessions on management of incidents and personnel. Also the senior fire fighters will get practical trainings where major incidents are simulated at several locations on the island. In between the training weeks the participants have to work on several assignments for the next session. The senior fire fighters of Sint Maarten that are taking part in the course are William York and Marvin Dollison.
The training course is a product of the joint efforts of the educational officers of the fire departments of the Caribbean Netherlands, Aruba, Curaçao and Sint Maarten and has been adapted from a similar course developed for the Netherlands to fit the specifics of the islands of the Dutch Caribbean. The training course is held under the auspices of the Dutch Institute for Physical Safety (IFV) in Arnhem, whereas the IFV certificates are recognized in the entire Dutch Kingdom. The teachers and trainers are IFV-certified Caribbean Fire officers from the several Caribbean islands and includes Fire Officer Silvanico Pauletta and Mr. Clive Richardson the Fire Chief of Sint Maarten.
