Training is the core activity for fire departments to ensure that every firefighter can perform competently as an individual and every fire company is prepared to operate as a high performance team.

The Savage Fire Department’s training provides ongoing and comprehensive training that enhances the knowledge and skills of our firefighters to ensure that each member is prepared for the next call.

Training is scheduled for each Tuesday evening and Wednesday morning and typically lasts 2-1/2 - 3 hours; the extra time allows us to train at our regional training facility, bring in outside speakers and training props. The second Tuesday/Wednesday is reserved for station and truck maintenance. The third Tuesday we have our monthly relief association meeting and a short training session. If there is a fifth Tuesday, that is an off night for the department.

Each member is required to make a minimum 75% of the drills throughout the year.

Hands-on Training

Occasionally, an old house is donated to the department for training purposes. This gives our firefighters an opportunity to practice fire suppression and search and rescue drills in a real-life setting, without threat to others.

Firefighter Jim Burg helps with rolling hose at the end of live fire training. This house was remove to make way so the road could be realigned.

Training in acquired structures is valuable for our department. It allows us to work on ventilation practices, ladders, communications, pump operations, and suppression techniques. All live fire training is conducted within NFPA 1403 standards.

Firefighters can watch how quickly the fire spreads and experience the extreme heat that accompanies a house fire. This drill refreshes the skills of veteran firefighters, and provides hands-on preparation to newer firefighters who may have yet to encounter their first burning home. The department also uses donated houses to work on different types of ventilation techniques.

Additional Training Information

• Initially each our our members are trained to the Firefighter I and II level as well as First Responder and CPR.
• Several of our members have since become EMT's and Paramedics.
• Each of the firefighters are required to maintain their Firefighter Certification levels and their First Responder Status.
• Each year several of our members attend weekend sectional schools around the state. The different schools offer a variety of classes and also gives our member a chance to network with members from other departments.
• Each year our firefighters spend more than 4500 hours of training.

With State laws and OSHA mandates changing and the availability of acquired structures, donated buildings, becoming less each year live fire training is becoming more difficult. In May of 2008 the SCALE Regional Public Safety Training Facility opened. Located in Jordan along with the Minnesota River Valley, this training facility serves Scott and Carver counties. This premier training facility provides training opportunities for Law Enforcement, Firefighting and Public Works groups.