Training and Safety

The Training & Safety Division provides instructional opportunities throughout the year to meet the needs of PBCFR operational personnel. This includes training for newly hired employees in the Recruit Academy, state and national training requirements, and other ongoing or specialized training. Operational employees maintain their required technical certifications through the Training & Safety Division. A variety of classes are given at fire stations, or Department Headquarters, located at the Chief Herman W. Brice Fire Rescue Complex. Safety alerts and online training modules are distributed to ensure PBCFR personnel receive essential information promptly.

Requests are processed from operational personnel who wish to pursue higher education at local colleges and state universities. Each year, Officer Development Academies for the ranks of Battalion Chief, EMS Captain, Captain, and Lieutenant are provided.

Training Classes Offered

National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 1/101 Update
Incident Command Systems for Expanding Incidents
All-Hazards Incident Management Team
Special Operations Candidate School
Statewide Emergency Response Plan
Advanced Cardiac Life Support/CPR
Pediatric Advanced Life Support
Tactical Emergency Casualty Care (TECC)
Florida Urban Search & Rescue classes

Structural Collapse
Confined Space
Trench
Rope Rescue
Vehicle Machinery Rescue (VMR)

Florida Fire Inspector Series I
Live Fire Training Instructor (LFTI)
Florida Fire Officer Series I
Florida Fire Officer Series II
FEMA Strike Team Leader
Search Culture
LP Gas Emergencies
Tesla Electric Vehicle Training
Elevator Emergencies
Driver Candidate School

Refresher Driver School
Emergency Vehicle

Division of Forestry
Aerial Operations

100’ aerial program

Dive Rescue

Open Water Dive
Advanced Water Dive
Emergency Response Diver

Recruit Academy

One of the essential responsibilities of the Training & Safety Division is to provide the initial orientation and training of recruit firefighters. During FY 2024, recruit classes 89, 90, and 91 graduated with a total of 95 new PBCFR firefighters. Each recruit completes a 12-14 week program combining rigorous physical and technical preparation with real-life scenarios to ensure they are fully equipped for their roles. They begin their first week with orientation and fundamentals, followed by EMS proficiency,

fire ground skills, advanced firefighting techniques, live fire and specialized operations, ending with
a well-deserved graduation ceremony. Post-graduation, all probationary firefighters are evaluated at
six and 11 months ensuring skills learned in the academy are retained throughout their first year of employment.