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From the Tulsa World, 6/19/03...
Fire official: Training cuts will raise risks
By BARBARA HOBEROCK World Capitol Bureau
6/19/2003
OKLAHOMA CITY -- Budget cuts to the OSU Fire Service Training program could drive up state insurance rates, state Fire Marshal Robert Doke said Wednesday.
"It is going to affect training for the fire service, some law enforcement, some emergency medical services and management agencies," he said.
Doke and Ralph Brown, director of Fire Service Training, said if local departments aren't properly trained, insurance companies will see greater risk in Oklahoma and raise rates accordingly.
The Oklahoma State University program was cut to $502,273 from slightly more than $1.1 million, said Ben Hardcastle, a spokesman for the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education.
"We had to make cuts to virtually every program we funded," Hardcastle said, adding that funding for some programs was suspended entirely.
Brown said the program might have to curtail the number of classes it offers in the field and charge for courses.
About 90 percent of the training is offered in the field, he said.
Much of the training is for rural areas, which have volunteer fire departments, Brown said.
"The majority of firefighters in Oklahoma are volunteers," he said. "They work for departments that have minimal resources. Also, because they are volunteers, they hold jobs and they have family obligations.
"It is difficult for them to travel and get the training. By us coming to them, they can train in the evenings and on the weekends."
Currently, the courses are offered at no cost or at a low cost, Brown said.
The program trains 16,000 to 17,000 people a year, he said.
As many as 1,100 classes are presented, he said.
The program canceled 21 classes that had been planned for June, Brown said.
The Oklahoma Fire Council will discuss the cuts Thursday during an emergency meeting in Oklahoma City.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Barbara Hoberock (405) 528-2465
[email protected]
*****
Fire official: Training cuts will raise risks
By BARBARA HOBEROCK World Capitol Bureau
6/19/2003
OKLAHOMA CITY -- Budget cuts to the OSU Fire Service Training program could drive up state insurance rates, state Fire Marshal Robert Doke said Wednesday.
"It is going to affect training for the fire service, some law enforcement, some emergency medical services and management agencies," he said.
Doke and Ralph Brown, director of Fire Service Training, said if local departments aren't properly trained, insurance companies will see greater risk in Oklahoma and raise rates accordingly.
The Oklahoma State University program was cut to $502,273 from slightly more than $1.1 million, said Ben Hardcastle, a spokesman for the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education.
"We had to make cuts to virtually every program we funded," Hardcastle said, adding that funding for some programs was suspended entirely.
Brown said the program might have to curtail the number of classes it offers in the field and charge for courses.
About 90 percent of the training is offered in the field, he said.
Much of the training is for rural areas, which have volunteer fire departments, Brown said.
"The majority of firefighters in Oklahoma are volunteers," he said. "They work for departments that have minimal resources. Also, because they are volunteers, they hold jobs and they have family obligations.
"It is difficult for them to travel and get the training. By us coming to them, they can train in the evenings and on the weekends."
Currently, the courses are offered at no cost or at a low cost, Brown said.
The program trains 16,000 to 17,000 people a year, he said.
As many as 1,100 classes are presented, he said.
The program canceled 21 classes that had been planned for June, Brown said.
The Oklahoma Fire Council will discuss the cuts Thursday during an emergency meeting in Oklahoma City.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Barbara Hoberock (405) 528-2465
[email protected]
*****
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