The Fire Training Division plans and directs all of the Fire training efforts of the department and it's 171 sworn personnel, including needs assessment, curriculum development, scheduling, and records management.

The Fire Training Division coordinates its activities with the EMS Division and the Hazardous Materials Division to administer state mandated continuing education classes. Firefighters attend training classes on fire, hazardous materials, water rescue, and emergency medical treatment, tactical rescue, WMD/Terrorism response, and mass causality incidents throughout the year at various Fire Department locations. Courses on supervisory development, new products and apparatus and other specialized training are conducted on an as needed basis. Courses are taught by the training chief and training officers. The department uses internal and external resource instructors as well.

The Fire Training Division is responsible for managing the wide range of training-related documents, reports, and records necessary for maintaining required certifications for the department's emergency response personnel. Staff members regularly monitor the activities of the Indiana Public Safety Training Institute to stay abreast of mandatory changes in training and certification requirements.

The Fire Training Division is also responsible for the basic training and direction of all new recruits/probationary firefighters. Carmel Fire Department has an extensive and in depth 22 weeks of basic firefighting, hazardous materials, and EMS. This training is conducted by on duty Instructors. Once the recruit's graduate from class they are assigned to A, B, or C shift, and continue to learn and be evaluated until the end of their probationary year.

The Fire Training Division is responsible for the training and direction of the Water Rescue Division. The Water Rescue Division includes a 14' flat bottom john boat, and a 12' inflatable zodiac, as well as assorted other river rescue equipment. Operations personnel receive tri-annual training in ice, swift water, and still water rescue techniques. The Fire Training Division monitors the activities of the Indiana State River Rescue Team to keep the training of department personnel up to the latest standards in swift water rescue.

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Carmel Fire Fighters in Training House Fire

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Carmel Fire Fighters in Training Commercial Forcible Entry

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Carmel Fire Fighters in Training Thermal Imaging Cameras used in "Mayday" Training

The following photos were taken during a recent Carmel Fire Department training session. These photos are looking through our "Thermal Imaging Cameras". The Training is Called "Mayday" Training. The purpose of the training is to simulate a fireman who is either hurt or stuck in a fire or rescue situation, locate him, replace his depleting air supply and remove him from the building. Mayday in the Fire Service is the same as Mayday in the Military. It is a phrase that is used to communicate that a firefighter is in trouble and needs help. We try to make our training as realistic as possible so the firefighters in these photos are in a pitch black warehouse. We have included a few photos with black around the images. That black is what the naked eye sees and gives you an idea of the environment they are working in.

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The Safety Division’s primary purpose is to protect our firefighters by allowing them to perform their jobs with the highest degree of skill and efficiency. At the end of each day, our goal is to have each of our firefighters to return home to their families.

The Safety Division works to provide a safe and healthy work environment, recognizing the dangers involved in the types of service we deliver. By providing training, supervision, procedures, program support and review, we hope to achieve specific safety and health objectives in all of our activities. In striving towards these objectives, the Safety Division maintains a Comprehensive Risk Management Plan which outlines the recommended National Fire Protection Agency (NFPA) standards which must be met in order to provide a safe and healthy work environment. The division is also responsible for injury reporting and risk reduction for the department.

Safety is a part of every aspect of the Carmel Fire Department, from purchasing protective equipment to emergency incidents to managing physical examination records. Safety is our number one goal, and our firefighters’ lives depend on it!