A pair of local firefighters recently participated in specialized oil and natural gas field training. The program includes hands on training as well as classroom instruction and information about the energy industry to help firefighters deal with situations that arise in oil and gas production. (Photo submitted)
Local firefighters participated recently in specialized training.
Austin Steele and Alex Wihl, firefighters and paramedics from the Jerome Township Fire Department, joined peers from across Ohio during a recent Oilfield Emergency Response Training session.
Officials said they are a “rare occasion” but situations in an oil or natural gas field do occur and it is important for first responders to know how to respond appropriately. The Ohio Oil and Gas Energy Education Program (OOGEEP) said Ohioans should know that safety standards and special instructions are keeping pace with the “dramatic growth of oil and natural gas production.”
“Firefighters invest a significant amount of time and energy to improve their skills and grow their abilities for various situations,” said Chief Jim Delman of the Sunset Heights Fire Department in Belmont County. “Oil and gas field emergencies are rare, but it is critical that firefighters know the special response techniques necessary.”
He said the training programs, “benefit not only the firefighter, but also their department, and the communities they serve.”
Chief Brent Gates, of the New Concord Fire Department in Guernsey County, serves as the lead fire instructor for the Oilfield Emergency Response Training program, along with more than 15 state-certified instructors with more than 500 years of combined experience in the oil and gas industry and/or fire service.
Gates said that as Ohio’s natural gas and oil industry continues to expand, so will the commitment to safety and preparedness for firefighters.
“The Oilfield Emergency Response Training program is unique in the nation and it continues to evolve as the industry grows and safety technologies advance,” Gates said.
He added the program and instructors, “offer a comprehensive training specific to Ohio’s growing energy industry.”
During the multi-day training, participants experience classroom presentations, virtual reality tabletop exercises and live outdoor behavior labs.
Gates explained that in addition to the response techniques, participants also learn about the industry, including how natural gas and oil are explored, drilled, produced and transported and the importance of collaborating with the industry.
Delman said that once firefighters are familiarized with the oil and gas industry, “they more at ease knowing how to properly and safely address any situations that may arise.”
OOGEEP provides oil and gas field trainings for firefighters at no cost.
“The Oilfield Emergency Response Training program started 19 years ago,” said Rhonda Reda, OOGEEP executive director. “It was a pioneering effort that has grown into one of the nation’s premier emergency response programs. Ohio’s oil and gas producers are proud to offer this critical training at no cost to our emergency responders, and to support our fire professionals in a variety of ways.”
Trainings are held at the Wayne County Fire and Rescue Regional Training Facility in Apple Creek. To date, the program has provided training to more than 1,600 Ohio firefighters, as well as firefighters from seven other states.
OOGEEP is a non-profit statewide education and public outreach program. Created in 1998, OOGEEP provides a variety of programs throughout the State of Ohio. These programs primarily focus on teacher workshops, scholarships, science fairs, firefighter trainings, industry safety trainings, career and workforce development, research and guest speaker programs.