siuDE.com

Media Credit: Michelle Arras

Though it only took Murphysboro firefighter Robert Alexander a six-week training course to enter his profession, his entry-level co-workers may soon need more preparation.

Alexander, 45, entered the force in 2000, but it is now the norm for firefighters to have associate degrees and eventually more education will be needed, said Gary Kistner, program coordinator for fire service management. Soon bachelor's and graduate degrees will be required of firefighters, Kistner said, which is why SIUC is developing a master's program in fire services and homeland security.

"Up until five years ago, education in fire services was not a priority," Kistner said. "People looked at fire services as a technical career. Now they look at it as a profession."

Kistner has been working since May 2006 gathering data and developing a curriculum for the program.

He said the 39-hour program is being developed to give working firefighters a broad-based background in fire, homeland security and emergency services.

Alexander said he was in favor of the progress because it is a good idea to have firefighters keep up with training since times are changing and cities in the area are growing.

Courses provided through the program will include fire management, emergency management, public policy and physical management.

Kistner said he was trying to create a hands-on course that would require students to make up a mass casualty situation and then get local emergency services to cooperate in doing the exercise.

He said the program was not a common one in the United States.

Regardless of the few programs similar to it, Will Devenport, director of information systems and applied technologies, said he is sure the program will be a hit at SIUC.

He said the department has done its homework by taking interest surveys from individuals to see how many people were likely to become involved with the program when it is developed.

"I'm very confident that we'll have the student population to support the degree," he said.

According to the U.S. Fire Administration Web site, "most firefighters and officers have earned college credits and training certificates since their first day in the fire service."

However, the U.S. Fire Administration indicates that this training is fragmented and calls for the coordination of programs through councils and model curriculums that must be followed.

Although the program has not been approved, Kistner said his hope is to have the program up and running this fall, but said that is probably only wishful thinking.

Christian Holt can be reached at 536-3311 ext. 268 or cholt@siu.edu.

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