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January 2011
Greetings!
It is my pleasure to welcome you to the webpage of the North American Fire Training Directors, known better by its acronym, NAFTD. NAFTD is made up of state, provincial, and territorial fire training directors from the United States and Canada. On an annual basis, our members collectively provide training to more than one million career and volunteer fire service professionals. Our main objective is to ensure that communities and their residents enjoy the protection of a well-trained and educated fire-rescue force.
In many cases, the state or provincial fire training agency is also involved in the certification of fire fighters, fire officers, fire investigators, fire inspectors, apparatus operators, and many other fire service occupations. Certification formally acknowledges that member of the fire service has met recognized job performance standards and educational/training requirements. Because of the importance of these standards, our organizations' members serve on various professional standards committees of the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA). NAFTD is also involved in both the International Fire Service Accreditation Congress (IFSAC) and the National Board on Fire Service Professional Qualifications (Pro Board) which are both active in fire service professionalism through certification.
On May 4, 1973, the National Commission on Fire Prevention and Control (NCFPC) published a report titled America Burning. This report discussed the nation's alarming fire problem and the related needs of America's fire service. As a result of America Burning, the National Fire Academy (NFA) became a reality. The Academy is located on a 107-acre campus in Emmitsburg, Maryland. The NFA offers a wide variety of subjects intended to attract students from all aspects of the American fire service. Classes are offered to all members of the fire service free of charge. The original intent of the NCFPC recommendation was to provide course offerings that would appeal to a broad spectrum of firefighters and fire officers across the country. Offerings were designed to be useful for firefighters from small rural volunteer fire departments to career firefighters in urban fire departments and range from fire command and management of EMS, to arson investigation and executive leadership. NAFTD is proud of its relationship with the National Fire Academy and is actively engaged in assisting the NFA in delivery of its classes across the country.
As you look through our website, you will find various resources of interest and use. If you are looking for information on a given state or province, you will find our member websites page very easy to use. Just click on the state or province and it will take you to their website.
In closing, I am honored to serve as the current President of the North American Fire Training Directors. My role is to guide this great organization and help facilitate and maintain the various partnerships we have in place with national and international fire service organizations such as the Congressional Fire Service Institute, FEMA Assistance to Fire Act Grants Program, National Wildfire Coordinating Group, International Association of Fire Chiefs, National Fallen Firefighter Foundation, Fire & Emergency Services in Higher Education, and many others.
Eriks J. Gabliks, President