FIRE   Colerain   EMS

We have received our FIRE CHARTER!

WHAT IS A CHARTER?

The charter is a certification which allows the Colerain Township Fire Department to conduct certified firefighter training as an independent agent of the State of Ohio Department of Public Safety.

WHO IS THE CHARTER FROM?

The charter is issued by the Ohio Department of Public Safety in accordance with ORC 4765.55.

WHAT CAN WE DO?

Certified instructors may instruct the volunteer firefighter course and firefighter I, II as well as fire safety inspector and instructor. Any class that is certified OPDS firefighter course may be instructed through the charter. We are not limited to instruction within Colerain Township. We may conduct courses for other agencies and charge for our services. We will also become a State firefighter testing location for certification.

WHY GET THE CHARTER?

The charter allows Colerain Township the freedom to use the curriculum we feel is appropriate for the course of instruction. It also allows us to control entrance and participation in any of our programs. In effect, it makes the Colerain Fire Department its own vocational education institution for fire service education.

HOW MANY FIRE DEPARTMENTS HAVE A CHARTER?

Including Colerain, there are only 10 Ohio fire departments with this educational charter. Many of these are larger city departments throughout the state.

HOW LONG TO OBTAIN THE CHARTER?

Work began at the end of 2004 with a visit to ODPS in Columbus. Assembly of the document began in early 2005 and continued until the charter submittal in late October 2005. The charter document is 9 chapters in length and covers items from the charts organizational chart, course descriptions, outlines 3 years of projected budgets, testing security and testing policies and procedures.

If you have any questions, please call Chief Bill Zoz in the training division--513-245-5451.