The Washington Twp./ Avon Building Construction & Fire Dynamics Symposium is a three-day high-quality fire service education event. Where the leadership of Washington Twp./ Avon Fire Department brings world-class fire service educators to Avon, Indiana. These educational sessions are FREE of charge to any fire service member.
Sessions Include:
September 5th, 2019 (9:00 am-5:00 pm) “Building Construction for the Fire Service”
Speaker: (Ret.) Chief Harry Tibbetts Indianapolis Fire Department
Chief Harry Tibbetts joined the Indianapolis Fire Department in 1968, after being discharged from the US Air Force after serving four years as an aircraft mechanic. He holds an Associate Degree in Applied Fire Science from Ivy Tech State College and is a graduate of the Indianapolis Public Schools School of Practical Nursing.
After spending 14 years in engine companies, Chief Tibbetts went to the IFD Training Academy as the Engine Instructor. He was promoted to Assistant Director of Training, and eventually became the Training Chief. He left the training academy after 7 years and served as a battalion chief until he was made the Deputy Chief of Operations. A year later, the training division was also placed under Chief Tibbetts’ direction.
Chief Tibbetts retired from IFD in 1999 and served for a short time as the Training Director for the Perry Township Fire Department in Marion County. He was named the Fire Chief of the Pike Township Fire Department in 1999 and was there for 3 years. Following his tenure at Pike Township he worked for the Wayne Township Fire Department, also in Marion County, for 4 years before “retiring” completely.
Chief Tibbetts has taught in all corners of Indiana. He has taught for IVY Tech State College, Vincennes University and Indiana Homeland Security. He makes the classes fun and interesting by peppering them with stories and humor about his experiences during his 38 years in the fire service.
He has received the following awards from IFD: Firefighter of the Year, Community Service Firefighter of the Year, Administrative Firefighter of the Year, Medal of Bravery, and Professional Excellence Award. He has received the following awards as well: American Legion Firefighter of the Year for the State of Indiana and induction into the Red Cross Hall of Fame on two separate occasions.
September 6th 2019 (9:00 am -5:00 pm)
“Residential Fire Tactics in Modern Plastics Environment” (9:00- 12:00)
“Garden Apartment & Townhome Fires” (1:00-5:00)
Speaker: (Ret.) Chief John Norman FDNY
Chief Norman is a veteran of over 40 years in the fire service, until his retirement in 2007, he served as Deputy Assistant Chief, Special Operations Command (SOC) for the New York City Fire Department. John served as the Search and Rescue Manager for the World Trade Center attack, and held a key role in rebuilding the department in the following years.
Chief Norman's distinguished career with the New York City Fire Department, combined with his training in highly regarded programs such as the Fire Officers Management Institute conducted by Columbia University, has made him an internationally sought-after figure throughout the fields of emergency incident response and management techniques. He has instructed at many venues during his career including the Counter Terrorism Training Program conducted jointly by the FDNY and the United States Military Academy (West Point), and the Fire Department Instructors Conference. John also serves as an expert witness on fire operational matters in both federal and state courts.
John is the author of the best selling books, Fire Officer's Handbook of Tactics, and its accompanying study guide, which are also available as an audio book and DVD series, as well as Fire Department Special Operations. All are available from Pennwell.
September 7th, 2019 (9:00 am – 5:00 pm) “From Atoms to Fire Extinguishment”
Speaker: Captain James Mendoza San Jose FD
James Mendoza is a captain with the San Jose, CA, Fire Department and a former science teacher. He holds a master’s degree in education from Stanford University and has pioneered developing and delivering fire behavior and live-fire training using models, videos and shared construction of knowledge.
Attendees will gain a deeper understanding of how to teach critical fire behavior concepts such as temperature vs. heat, vent vs. fuel limited burning, flow paths, flammability limits, flashover and backdraft by experiencing these concepts through small-scale and on fire interactive models. This class will include both classroom based lecture and video driven discussions as well as outside the classroom use of small scale models to illustrate fire principles. Candle demonstration: to look at temperature vs. energy, laminar flaming combustion, states of matter, smoldering vs. burning, flammability limits. Explaining the chemistry and physics of firefighting is difficult, but the use of models captivates attention and brings science concepts to life in an understandable and engaging way.. This is must have knowledge for all suburban and urban fire department training staff.
Location: Avon North Middle School Avon, Indiana