he Kansas City Fire Training Academy is a division of the Kansas City, Mo., Fire Department and is located district just south of the Missouri River at 5130 Deramus Road. The training academy develops and provides essential training and educational programs to all of our career firefighters. This training provides firefighters with a variety of skills necessary to protect the citizens of the community. The academy specializes and trains targeted members of our department for unique hazards such as water rescue, high-angle rescue and trench rescue. Fire companies also are trained on new apparatus and equipment as new and innovative equipment arrives.

We recently added the Fire Net as part of our training curriculum. The Fire Net is a closed circuit cable channel that provides field personnel with educational programs and materials to meet the training needs of the Fire Department. This channel is available to all fire stations in the city. The Fire Academy also operates a film library to provide audiovisual materials that assist in training and public education.

The training academy has developed a physical fitness program to enhance safety and firefighting abilities. Aerobic and anaerobic training have been incorporated to develop strength, stamina and endurance — qualities needed to perform firefighting duties. With this type of training a better quality of life is created that benefits employees and employer.

Another responsibility of the training academy is to monitor and keep reports of individual and company training records. Most records are kept long after the employee has left the job.

In addition to the in-service training programs and record keeping, the training academy is responsible for providing and coordinating cadet training for new recruits throughout the year.

To view the Kansas City, Mo., Fire Department's Large Area Search Team training, (L.A.S.T), please view the information below.

L.A.S.T. training with KCFD (requires RealMedia Player).

Fore more information on the Training Division of the Kansas City, Mo., Fire Department, call (816) 784-2040.