MANDATE! Lawmakers Mandate Electric Vehicle Fire Training (The Secret List)

This is an interesting and excellent proposal in Virginia. There are many in “our world” who are against “mandated” Firefighter training-but yet support “mandated” training for airline pilots, medical doctors, nurses, hazmat teams, psychiatrists, paramedics, barbers-you know, folks like that. Career or Volunteer-each of us must be trained (and regularly re-trained) and qualified at a “do good” level in what we are realistically expected to do on the fireground.

Unfortunately, the lack of Firefighter & Fire Officer training has made some distressing headlines throughout North America in the past. ..so here’s Virginia setting a positive tone that will benefit those who call us (the public) when they are having a bad day, and benefit those Firefighters & Fire Officers who respond on those runs. Every FD has the potential for these “new” kinds of fires-that didn’t even exist just a few years ago.

Check this out: 

Virginia firefighters will be required to complete a training program starting next year, about the risk of electric vehicle fires.

Del. Israel O’Quinn, R-Washington, proposed House Bill 2451 to require the executive director of the Virginia Department of Fire Programs to develop a training program for electric vehicle fires. The program must be developed and available by July, 1 2024, according to the bill. All Firefighters, including volunteer Firefighters, must complete the training by Dec. 1, 2025.

The bill unanimously passed committees and both chambers. Sen. Bryce Reeves, R-Spotsylvania, asked for one clarification in the Senate General Laws and Technology committee, about whether the program would be offered both in-person and virtual.

“I heard from some of my fire folks, and they were concerned that this is more time away,” Reeves said. Spencer Willett, government affairs manager for the Virginia Department of Fire Programs, assured the Senate committee the training would be offered in multiple modalities.

READ THE ENTIRE ARTICLE: https://www.emporiaindependentmessenger.com/news/article_c5ea5b22-bdd4-11ed-b919-5fdf2bb27a9a.html

Take Care. Be Careful. Pass It On.

BillyG

The Secret List 3/9/2023-1325 Hours