Fire Program Newsletter
Fall Fire School is this month!
The DPSST Fire Program’s Fall Fire School is just around the corner! The school will be held September 26–27 on the Oregon Public Safety Academy campus in Salem and features several sought after National Fire Academy courses.
All courses run for the full two days and will conclude around 5 p.m. on September 27. Complimentary lodging is available on Friday, September 25, and Saturday, September 26, for participants traveling more than 75 miles. Breakfast and lunch are provided for all attendees.
If you can no longer attend after registering, please remember to cancel your reservation. Many classes have waitlists, and releasing your spot may allow someone else to participate. Please note that individuals who register but do not attend will be ineligible for DPSST fire trainings for one year.
Exciting New Live Fire Training Capabilities at the DPSST Campus!
By Campus Fire Training Coordinator Aaron Bielemeier
The DPSST Fire Program is proud to announce major new additions to our live fire training facilities that further strengthen Oregon’s ability to prepare firefighters for real‑world emergencies.
Thanks to a 2023 Assistance to Firefighters Grant, DPSST has partnered with Fireblast Global to design and construct a custom live fire box truck prop now located on campus. The live fire box truck will offer some new training approaches to challenge firefighters. It provides multiple live-fire locations throughout the truck and dense smoke which adds additional realism to scenarios. The prop will currently be suitable for on campus use only and will be available to use for training soon.
And we’re not stopping there.
DPSST is currently preparing two live fire rail cars, which will soon give departments the opportunity to train for rail‑specific fire emergencies. These rail car props will expand our ability to deliver realistic, scenario‑driven training for incidents involving rail transportation.
Agencies can also take advantage of our schoolhouse/large‑building search facility, a versatile prop capable of being filled with smoke for high‑quality search and rescue drills. Although dry hose lines are required inside the building, DPSST now has the capability to charge hose lines with air to accurately mimic the feel of a charged line which enhances realism without water damage.
These exciting new features and capabilities of on-campus training are in addition to our class B live fire training tower, water mapping prop, search and rescue houses, and more.
As always, DPSST provides all on‑campus and off-campus training at no cost, including fuel and materials. However, some of our mobile props may be dropped off for fire agencies to use, and if that is the case we simply ask that you cover the consumables used during your training.
We encourage all Oregon fire agencies to take advantage of these new capabilities and continue building skills through hands‑on, realistic scenarios. DPSST is here to support our state’s fire service with high‑quality, no‑cost training opportunities built to meet today’s challenges.
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Reintroducing Former Training Props
By Northwest Fire Training Coordinator Josh Feller
Many of you have observed the cyclical nature of the fire service, where each new initiative, buzzword, or piece of equipment arrives with great enthusiasm, only to eventually settle onto a shelf in a back room or storage closet. This pattern is familiar to those who have spent years leading crews, managing training, and navigating evolving industry priorities.
With that in mind, I recently dusted off one of DPSST’s legacy training props. Some of you will recall this FLAG prop from earlier in your careers, this prop was used to instruct many of Oregon’s firefighters. Despite its age, the prop retains significant value which lies in its mechanical simplicity and the need for deliberate body positioning and precise manipulation of valves and levers. This prop also serves as a platform for discussing chemical process safety, prompting questions like “why did you turn that valve?”.
Reintegrating this vintage prop has reintroduced complexity into the training environment. It encourages firefighters to think critically, adjust their actions, and interact with unfamiliar equipment, skills that align directly with the expectations placed on today’s officers and senior personnel.
DPSST’s recent reintroduction of a legacy FLAG training prop highlights the ongoing value of revisiting proven methods, so long as they are applied within today’s standards and operational expectations. While newer FLAG props continue to provide advanced, modernized training opportunities, this vintage equipment adds meaningful complexity that encourages firefighters to think critically, manipulate unfamiliar controls, and engage in deliberate decision‑making. Just as important, this approach reinforces that older training methods should not be dismissed outright; when they still align with modern standards and regulations, they can remain powerful tools for developing adaptable, well‑rounded firefighters prepared for today’s fireground challenges.
Fire Program Participates in National Night Out
Tuesday, August 4th, Fire Training Coordinator Aaron Bielemeier brought the DPSST car fire training prop to St. Paul’s National Night Out; showing exactly how this kind of equipment can support both training and community engagement. St. Paul firefighters used the prop for hands-on vehicle fire practice, while the public got a safe, up‑close look at real firefighting operations demonstrated by their very own community’s firefighters.
If your department participates in National Night Out, keep in mind that DPSST can provide similar training props and support. It’s a great way to sharpen skills, highlight your department’s capabilities, and connect with your community all at once. Let this be your reminder to plan ahead and use DPSST in a similar capacity next year!
From the Fire Training Trail: August
Your monthly look at DPSST Regional Fire Training happening across Oregon. For more information on possibly bringing any of these trainings to your fire department or visiting campus, contact your Regional Fire Training Coordinator.
Oregon Public Safety Academy Hosts Salem Fire Department Training
The Salem Fire Department conducted training on DPSST’s campus last month, making full use of the available training grounds. DPSST Fire Training staff guided recruit firefighters through several hands‑on scenarios, including search‑and‑rescue operations in both the school and residential training structures. In the past, firefighter trainees were unable to bring a charged hose line into those buildings, which limited realism since search‑and‑rescue operations are often performed with a hose line in hand. This month marked the first use of a new training tool that allows hose lines to be charged with compressed air instead of water, allowing firefighters to train using hose lines without damaging DPSST's training structures.
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Fire Certification Engagement in Tillamook County
Fire Program Director Kayla Ballrot and Fire Certification Supervisor Brooke Bell‑Uribe, along with representatives from Oregon OSHA and the Special Districts Association of Oregon, attended the Nestucca Rural Fire Protection District volunteer drill night on Monday August 3rd, 2026. They met with volunteers to discuss fire certification standards and requirements. The group was highly engaged, asked excellent questions, and contributed to an informative and productive evening.
Coos County Vehicle Fire Training
Southern Oregon Training Coordinator Rick Cooper brought together firefighters from multiple Coos County agencies for a large-scale vehicle fire training night. Participants included members from Coos Bay Fire & Rescue, Lakeside RFPD, Hauser RFPD, North Bay RFPD, Central Coos Fire & Rescue, and Coquille Fire Department. In total, twenty-five firefighters took part in this essential training, strengthening their vehicle fire response skills while building strong, effective teamwork across departments.
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2027 Winter Fire School: Coming Soon!
We are looking forward to hosting the 2027 Winter Fire School February 20th - February 21st, 2027. We will be announcing the opening of registration Thursday, October 1st, 2026. If you would like to get notified when this training goes live, please sign up to receive our Fire Training emails on Gov Delivery or follow our Eventbrite page.
Current NFA Classes
Incident Command System for Structural Collapse Incidents
Dates: Sept. 24, 2026 - Sept. 25, 2026
Times: 8 AM - 5 PM both days
Location: Bend, Oregon
2 spots left! Sign up using this link: ICSFSCI
Command and Control of Incident Operations
Dates: Dec. 7, 2026 - Dec. 12, 2026
Times: 8 AM - 5 PM all 6 days
Location: Bend, Oregon
Registration Full! Please email Madison Mancuso to be added to the waitlist!
Maintenance Re-Certification
Reminder: it is time for the Biannual Maintenance Re-Certification process! By now, your agency should have received their Maintenance Re-Certification packet. The forms inside the packet are due back to DPSST by the end of December. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out the Fire Certification Specialist Michelle Hilt at michelle.hilt@dpsst.oregon.gov or 503-931-8806.
Fingerprint Fee Increase
Effective October 1, 2026, the one-time fingerprinting fee will increase from 45.00 to 48.00. This change is due to an increase in the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) fingerprint processing fee. The Oregon State Police (OSP) fee for processing fingerprints will remain 33.00.
Outstanding invoices will continue to reflect the 45.00 fee, and only fingerprints received on or after October 1 will be subject to the new 48.00 fee. This increase applies to both paper fingerprint cards and fingerprints submitted through Fieldprint. Please note that the 48.00 fee is separate from the 12.00 administrative fee charged by Fieldprint.
A Volunteer Grant will still be available to waive the 48.00 fingerprinting fee for volunteers. The grant can be accessed on the DPSST website using the Fingerprint Grant Form. This grant may only be applied to the fees charged by OSP and the FBI; it does not cover the fees charged by Fieldprint.
If you have questions about this fee increase or the DPSST fingerprint requirement, please contact Michelle Hilt at michelle.hilt@dpsst.oregon.gov or 503-931-8806.
Thank you to our Retired District Liaison Officers
DPSST Fire Program staff would like to take a moment to recognize and thank the District Liaison Officers (DLOs) who have retired from our program over the past few years. If you are not familiar with the DLO program, these volunteers serve as regional points of contact for Fire Certification and Training. They conduct agency accreditation reviews so that fire agencies can perform in-house training that qualifies for certification, attend training association meetings to stay informed on local activities and concerns, and assist with general certification and training questions that support the work of DPSST staff.
The Fire Program could not accomplish all that it does—nor maintain such a broad network of accredited fire service agencies throughout Oregon—without the time, dedication, and commitment of our DLOs. We extend our sincere appreciation to our retired DLO’s and the one’s who are currently serving.
If you have a meeting scheduled with your current DLO—or happen to see one of your past DLOs—please take a moment to thank them for their dedication and service to the Oregon Fire Service.
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