New division chief responsible for training

Keith Bryant/The Weekly Vista Division chief over training Scott Cranford (right, standing) briefs firefighters on a drill in the Fire Station 1 training room.
Keith Bryant/The Weekly Vista Division chief over training Scott Cranford (right, standing) briefs firefighters on a drill in the Fire Station 1 training room.

Scott Cranford, who served as a training officer with the Joplin Fire Department, was hired as the Bella Vista Fire Department's new division chief responsible for training earlier this year.

Cranford said he has spent the past decade of his career focused on training and he's happy to bring his skills and experience to Bella Vista.

"My overall job responsibility is to develop and implement a monthly training plan designed around fire suppression," he explained.

He develops programs to train in various technical skills and organizational skills, including communications, operating equipment, using a functional chain of command structure, search and rescue operations, and others.

He's requiring a certain number of documented training hours from each firefighter, he explained, including hours focused on individual specialties, be they driver-operators or officers.

"That really plays a big part in being professional," he said.

In addition to helping firefighters do their jobs better, he said, the training will help them adhere to National Fire Protection Association, or NFPA, standards. Additionally, he said, a full training program can help the city score points to lower its Insurance Service Organization, or ISO, rating, which could reduce insurance rates for area property owners.

Moving forward, Cranford said, he's going to be working to plan out the fire department's proposed training facility, which he said will create several opportunities to expand the department's training capabilities.

"I'm excited," he said.

General News on 09/05/2018