Open Fire Academy, International Becomes First International Fire Academy
The Open Fire Academy (www.openfireacademy.org) becomes the first international fire academy. A nonprofit, the OFA is the only one of it's kind specifically focused on the global fire community.
Eagle River, WI, November 09, 2008 --(PR.com)-- Imagine taking a firefighter class where the students may be from the United States, Germany, Iraq, and Japan. What if your instructor was from Great Britain or Chile? The internet has changed much of how we do business and interact, but now it is changing the way emergency responders train. Now they have the opportunity to engage on critical topics of firefighter safety, learn from each other, and share ideas. Building an international fire service training community can be complex. However, a nonprofit calling itself the Open Fire Academy (www.openfireacademy.org), seems to be accomplishing just that. The OFA is creating standardized training that is designed to meet the needs of the new global community. Initiated in the United States, it is quickly becoming a United Nations of the fire and emergency services. Students and instructors come from a variety of countries to take classes, share ideas, and to expand their understanding of firefighting. Building off of the common threads of the fire service worldwide has opened many doors for discussion.
To keep costs down and to ensure training is affordable, the OFA utilizes numerous volunteers and draws much of its funding from advertising revenue. To keep an open community where training and education can remain the focus, alternative sources of funding must be created. Capitalizing on the current resources of the internet provides such benefits.
However, the Open Fire Academy is not just about delivering classes. In addition, the OFA provides research and development to create ways to improve firefighter safety and training capabilities. Currently they are working on projects such as 3D animation for training and virtual reality training. They have also created a platform on the system for sharing and following research projects in firefighter safety called the OFA Labs. While there are only a few projects listed, all are very innovative technologies and will provide opportunities for change within the fire service.
In a time when so many fire academies are struggling to maintain budgets and facilities, it is interesting to see innovation expand the way firefighters can be trained. The Open Fire Academy has bridged relationships and partnerships with existing training centers to further assist in it's efforts. Taking a portal approach, the OFA has positioned itself to bridge training opportunities and further both it's purpose and other training entities. The safety of every nation's firefighters carries a critical purpose. Creating resources and services that further this need is important. The Open Fire Academy is clearly an innovator and leader in this cause.
To visit the Open Fire Academy, please go to: www.openfireacademy.org
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To keep costs down and to ensure training is affordable, the OFA utilizes numerous volunteers and draws much of its funding from advertising revenue. To keep an open community where training and education can remain the focus, alternative sources of funding must be created. Capitalizing on the current resources of the internet provides such benefits.
However, the Open Fire Academy is not just about delivering classes. In addition, the OFA provides research and development to create ways to improve firefighter safety and training capabilities. Currently they are working on projects such as 3D animation for training and virtual reality training. They have also created a platform on the system for sharing and following research projects in firefighter safety called the OFA Labs. While there are only a few projects listed, all are very innovative technologies and will provide opportunities for change within the fire service.
In a time when so many fire academies are struggling to maintain budgets and facilities, it is interesting to see innovation expand the way firefighters can be trained. The Open Fire Academy has bridged relationships and partnerships with existing training centers to further assist in it's efforts. Taking a portal approach, the OFA has positioned itself to bridge training opportunities and further both it's purpose and other training entities. The safety of every nation's firefighters carries a critical purpose. Creating resources and services that further this need is important. The Open Fire Academy is clearly an innovator and leader in this cause.
To visit the Open Fire Academy, please go to: www.openfireacademy.org
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Contact
Open Fire Academy
Michael Finney
888.282.8626
www.openfireacademy.org
Michael Finney
888.282.8626
www.openfireacademy.org
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