SFT-Review - Flipbook - Page 14
PERSPECTIVES CONT.
When things do not go as planned, there must be
structured mechanisms for national learning so that
The solution is not to pull back from our mission, but to
ensure that our foundation, our training, education, and those experiences inform future training and response
research infrastructure, keeps pace with the challenges strategies. What happens in one department should
not remain an isolated lesson.
we face. This must happen at every level of the fire
service.
The Imperative of Investment
At the local level, chiefs must continue to prioritize
and defend training budgets, recognizing that a robust
training division is not a luxury, but an operational
necessity. Training must be realistic, frequent, and
forward looking, integrating lessons learned from both
within and beyond our own jurisdictions.
At the state level, sustained investment in institutions
such as State Fire Training (SFT) is critical. SFT has
long been a cornerstone of professional development
in California, setting the standard for credentialing
and curriculum development. But the accelerating
pace of change demands that SFT adopt an even
more proactive stance, developing new courses,
competencies, and standards for emerging threats such
as energy storage, alternative fuels, and advanced
building systems.
At the federal level, funding must expand to support
education, equipment, and research. Funding is
desperately needed to support firefighter training,
technology acquisition, and post incident analysis, all
essential tools for safety and continuous improvement.
ANNUAL REPORT 2025
Building a Culture of Continuous
Learning
The fire service has always been defined by its
commitment to readiness. But readiness today requires
more than muscle memory and mechanical skill;
it demands curiosity, adaptability, and a lifelong
commitment to learning. The operational environment is
changing faster than ever, and the tools, materials, and
hazards we face are increasingly complex.
If we are to remain true to our mission to protect lives,
property, and the environment, we must embrace
education not as an occasional requirement, but as a
core operational function.
“We must embrace education not
as an occasional requirement, but
as a core operational function.”
