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CPA gets $347K training grant
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Posted on Oct 31 2005
The Commonwealth Ports Authority received a federal grant amounting to $347,000 for the training of firefighters from all over Micronesia.
The grant from the U.S. Department of the Interior will assist CPA in funding the training of firefighters from the CNMI, Guam, Palau, Federated States of Micronesia, and the Marshall Islands in fiscal year 2006.
This covers training materials, suits, registration fees, instructor fees. and supplies.
CPA executive director Carlos Salas said about 70 to 80 firefighters are expected to undergo training at the newly opened Pacific Region Aircraft Rescue and Firefighting Training Center at the Saipan International Airport.
Effective July 22, 2005, CPA was fully accredited to certify firefighting personnel in accordance with the criteria established by the National Board on Fire Service Professional Qualification, also known as the Pro-Board.
This gave CPA the full authority under the Pro-Board accreditation program to certify the following level of fire fighters: fire fighter 1 and 2, airport firefighter, driver/operator of aircraft rescue and firefighting vehicles, fire officer 1 and 2, fire instructor 1 and 2, and fire inspector 1 and 2.
Prior to receiving full accreditation, CPA’s Aircraft Rescue and Fire Fighting Department was given permission by the Pro-Board a temporary delegation of authority to certify fire personnel.
This temporary delegation of authority allowed all participants attending ARFF training at CPA’s newly opened Pacific Region ARFF Training Center to receive Pro-Board certification, thus meeting or exceeding U.S. national firefighting training level standards for all fire personnel.
The delegation also authorized CPA to extend the Pro-board’s certification to other fire fighters within the Pacific region who pass the training on Saipan.
