Consumers Energy teamed up with member electric cooperatives from the Iowa Association of Electric Cooperatives, Alliant Energy and MidAmerican Energy to fund specialized first responder training during the 91st Annual State Fire School session in Ames Friday and Saturday.
Organized by the Fire Service Training Bureau, the State Fire School training is held at the Scheman Continuing Education Center on the campus of Iowa State University and provides high quality training from top instructors.
Effective training reduces risk to firefighters, many of whom are volunteers, while increasing the level of service to the communities they serve. The electric utilities will fund two identical three-hour workshops, Responding to Electrical Emergencies — Solar and Wind Power, which will be led by renown instructor Mike Callan. The workshops will familiarize responders with the hazards of electricity in general, along with the unique hazards of solar and wind electricity generation. Participants will discuss the hazards, equipment, safety, and general response tactics for first responders.
Callan will also present an extensive all-day course, Responding to Electrical Emergencies – Solar and Wind Power: Train-the-Trainer, that will provide proper tools and training for Fire Service Training Bureau Field Staff, who will then use that knowledge to train additional first responders across the state regarding the unique fire hazards of solar and wind on-site electric generation systems.
Consumers Energy is a rural electric cooperative committed to providing its members with reliable electric service in a safe manner at affordable and equitable rates. The cooperative serves over 5,500 members throughout five counties in Central Iowa: Jasper, Marshall, Polk, Story and Tama.