Menlo Park Fire Protection District

 

Training

 

Program Overview

The Training program’s purpose is to plan, develop, and deliver training to safety personnel in support of the Fire District’s mission.  The District’s training curriculum is developed from established best practices and federal, state, and local regulatory authorities including NFPA, State Fire Training, OSHA, and the state and county EMS agencies.

Management Oversight

The Training program is directed by the Division Chief of Training with oversight authority delegated to the Training Captain. This program has a total of four full-time equivalent personnel. This program contains the expenses pertaining to education reimbursement, fire academy costs, general supplies and equipment purchases, contract services, and overtime for personnel training and program administration.

Program Objectives

  • Ensure continuous training and evaluation for all suppression staff to maintain and enhance their skills.
  • Anticipate future training requirements and create a schedule to ensure timely and relevant training opportunities.
  • Track the progress of personnel, offering support and guidance as needed to ensure their professional growth.
  • Design and implement internal training programs while collaborating with South Zone and County-wide training initiatives to ensure consistency and alignment.
  • Continuously seek out and incorporate new training techniques, tools, and equipment to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of training programs.

FY 2024-25 Accomplishments

  • Organized and hosted two State Fire Training-certified Fire Control 3 courses, expanding training opportunities for local personnel.
  • Guided seven firefighters through probation, with an additional seven new entry-level firefighters graduating from the recruit academy and starting their probationary period.
  • Supported two joint fire academies, strengthening regional collaboration and training efforts.
  • Released 45 video lesson plans to support ongoing training and development.
  • Provided continuing education for Engine Operators focused on pump operations
  • Organized and administered the Captains’ test in February 2025 to provide career advancement opportunities for eligible personnel.
  • Anticipated completion of five new hires’ probationary period.

FY 2024-25 Program Initiatives

  • Expand video lesson plans and ensure training resources are mobile-accessible.
  • Continue design and development of new training facilities to meet the District’s evolving training needs.
  • Continue semi-annual Engine Operator training and establish truck company performance standards.
  • Continue supporting the recruit firefighter academy and perform a gap analysis of current internal practices to identify additional training needs for new firefighters prior to going on shift.
  • Support the internal development and training of safety personnel.
  • Continued development for Captain’s and Chief Officers

Full-Time Equivalent Personnel

Program Expenditure Summary

Expenditure Analysis

Salaries: The expenditure request includes regular salaries, annual leave, holiday pay, leave cash-outs, workers' compensation, and other paid leaves. The increase of $223,996 is primarily due to several factors: the anticipated general wage increase and the addition of an additional Training Captain. These adjustments reflect changes in full-time equivalent personnel and necessary compensation updates for the upcoming fiscal year.

 

Stipends: This request includes funding for paramedic, EMT, career development pay, residency stipends, and uniform allowance stipends. An increase of $71,347 is primarily due to the addition of one Training Captain in the upcoming fiscal year.

 

Retirement: The expenditure request includes the normal employer’s retirement contribution, Unfunded Actuarial Liability (UAL) annual payment, UAL excess payment, and Medicare tax payments. An increase of $259,797 is primarily due to several factors: the allocation of UAL annual and excess expenses to the employee program, an increase in the normal retirement contribution rate, and the addition of retirement-related costs for one new Training Captain. These adjustments reflect the growing financial obligations associated with the retirement plan and the inclusion of the new position’s retirement expenses.

 

Benefits: The expenditure request includes payments for the café plan, dental plan, life insurance, and post-employment health plan benefits. An increase of $53,276 is primarily due to the potential year-over-year rate increases for the benefit plans, as well as the inclusion of benefits costs for the additional Training Captain. These adjustments reflect both the annual cost increases in benefit plans and the added benefits expenses for the new position.

 

Materials and supplies: This request includes funding for general supplies, tools and equipment, apparatus equipment, gas/oil, travel, conference registration, and membership/license fees. A decrease of $254,688 is expected, mainly due to the anticipated delivery of Qwake cameras this fiscal year, which means the amount will not be rebudgeted for the next fiscal year.

 

Contract services: This request includes funding for repair and maintenance services, general equipment maintenance services, and general contract services. A decrease of $27,300 is anticipated, primarily due to a reduction in the need for outside training instructors and contract services.

 

Fixed assets:  All fixed asset purchases will be reported in the Capital Improvement Projects Fund. There are no fixed asset expenditure requests for the current year.