TI Certification Program Available for the Fire Service
August 19, 2003
The Law Enforcement Thermographers’ Association (LETA) is pleased to announce a full certification program for thermal imaging in the fire service. Working closely with the thermal imaging training team at Bullard, LETA has developed a multi-level fire service certification. Within its new Public Safety branch, LETA has formalized a program that recognizes Basic, Advanced and Instructor level certification. Bullard, the leader in thermal imaging for the fire service, is the first TI manufacturer to offer this training to the fire service, with two LETA-certified instructors on staff.
“This project has been almost two years in the making,” said Charlie Stowell, the Executive Director of LETA and a retired Drug Enforcement Administration agent. “After the attacks of September 11, we were receiving dozens of phone calls a month from fire departments seeking training and certification. We had a program for police officers, but no experience with the fire service,” said Stowell. “That is where Bullard was able to help.”
Jonathan Bastian, Thermal Imaging Training Manager for Bullard, explains the company’s involvement in this certification program. “Because we employ a full-time training staff, all of whom have experience as line firefighters and officers, Bullard brings a knowledge base and asset base to the LETA effort,” he said. “Though Bullard has long offered a well-rounded training program, a number of fire departments have noted the lack of state or national training standards. LETA, as an international training organization, was willing and able to fill that void.”
Tim Kozal, Director of LETA’s Public Safety branch, emphasized that the program
serves another purpose. “As homeland security and domestic preparedness have
become primary focuses of public safety organizations, it only makes sense
that law enforcement and the fire service should start to look for more ways
to work together,” he said.
Leaders of both LETA and Bullard are confident that the fire service will eagerly
adopt this program and that local and state fire academies will use the LETA
training as a standard.
The Law Enforcement Thermographers’ Association, founded in 1995, is a professional law enforcement organization dedicated to promoting the legal and ethical use of thermal imaging in support of law enforcement operations. LETA membership, originally limited to those engaged in or supporting law enforcement, has been expanded to accept all those engaged in providing or supporting public safety. LETA law enforcement training is recognized across the USA, as well as internationally. The Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police and a number of state and local agencies currently use LETA for their thermal imaging training.
Founded in 1898, Bullard is a leading manufacturer of personal protective equipment and systems worldwide. Product lines include thermal imagers, hard hats, firefighter and rescue helmets, supplied air respirators, powered air-purifying respirators, and air quality equipment. Bullard is headquartered in Cynthiana, Kentucky. Two members of the company’s training staff are currently certified as LETA Instructors. Jonathan Bastian and Senior Training Specialist Gary Simpson achieved Instructor level in Spring 2003. They will begin offering certification training across North America in Fall 2003.
Additional information on the LETA certification program can be found by visiting www.leta.org or www.thermalimager.com, or by calling Jonathan Bastian at 1-877-BULLARD, extension 257.