City Of Bloomington Fire Chief Receives FEMA Certification

City Of Bloomington Fire Chief Receives FEMA Certification

Date of Record: June 1, 2006

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 1, 2006

For More Information:
Jeff Barlow, Fire Chief, City of Bloomington, 332.9763
Maria K. Heslin, Communications Director, City of Bloomington, 349.3569

Bloomington, IN -- Mayor Mark Kruzan announced today that City of Bloomington Fire Department (BFD) Chief Jeff Barlow successfully completed the Executive Fire Officer Program (EFOP) hosted by U.S. Department of Homeland Security FEMA. Kruzan's announcement coincides with Be Safe Bloomington, the third month to debut in the community character campaign, Be Bloomington.

"This is yet another reason the community can rest assured that BFD and all public safety entities are committed to ensuring our community is safe and protected," Kruzan said. "We count on knowledgeable and competent staff and public safety officers to serve our community to the best of their ability and to provide the highest quality of life for Bloomington residents."

EFOP is held annually at the National Fire Academy in Emmitsburg, MD. The program consists of four two-week resident courses, one per year for four years; each course trains executive level fire officers on leadership education, executive development and response/disaster management issues.

After each course, participants must complete an applied research project related to the program's topic of study and relate specifically to their local fire department.

Applied research projects with a passing grade (3.0 or better on a 4-point scale) are published in the Academy's Learning Resource Library for other fire professionals to study and continue additional research. Chief Barlow's research topics included:

• Funding Alternatives For Career Fire Departments - A Nonprofit Perspective
• Community Risk Protection: Perceptions And Expectations Of Bloomington Stakeholders
• Response To Large-Scale Emergencies From The Bloomington Fire Department
• Strategic Planning For The Bloomington, Indiana Fire Department

"I am thankful for the opportunity to participate in this outstanding program," Barlow said. "The program's material, instructors and relationships with peer fire officers from across the country have all helped me develop as a fire officer in Bloomington. My participation in the program and the applied research will continue to produce results in our department for the community's benefit." Chief Barlow completed the Executive Fire Officer Program on October 14, 2005, and received his Executive Fire Officer Certification this spring.

For additional information about Be Safe Bloomington, please visit bloomington.in.gov/bbbb, e-mail [bbbb@bloomington.in.gov|mailto:bbbb@bloomington.in.gov] or call the Be Bloomington hotline at 349-BBBB.

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