The National Association of State Fire Marshals (NASFM) has launched an awareness and prevention training course focused on helping fire prevention agencies to prevent intentional fires in times of civil unrest.

The course offering was made possible through the FEMA Assistance to Firefighters grant program—grants aimed to support projects that enhance the safety of the public and firefighters from fire and related hazards. The primary goal of the funding is to reduce injury and prevent death among high-risk populations.

Phil Oakes, NASFM Chief of Operations and Training, commented: “In recent years, we’ve seen an increase in injuries and deaths of firefighters and others responding to public events that have turned violent.

“First responders, including firefighters, are trained to expect the unexpected when responding to emergency calls. This new online training gives them additional awareness and strategies to help them better protect themselves and others while dealing with incidents of civil unrest.”

NASFM partnered with AliveTek, Inc., to design and build this training. AliveTek Chief Creative Officer Marc Hugentobler said: “Our new course, Bridging the Gap: Preparing Your Jurisdiction for Civil Unrest is next-level. It reflects an extremely collaborative and interactive design by NASFM and our creative team. The scenarios within the course engage learners and give them a new perspective and the tools they need to plan for safer communities.”

This course is freely available at the NASFM eLearning portal at no charge to fire prevention agencies across the United States. For more information, visit:https://nasfm-training.org.