December 04, 2018 - New Jersey Division of Fire Safety Offers Training Opportunities to Educate New Jersey’s Fire Service and the General Public

 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Tuesday, December 04, 2018

TRENTON, NJ – The New Jersey Division of Fire Safety last week joined Kean University to host the Mid-Atlantic Regional Fire Safety Summit and the two-day Annual New Jersey Youth Firesetter Intervention Conference. As the State of New Jersey’s central fire service agency, the Division is responsible for developing and enforcing the State Uniform Fire Code, training and educating New Jersey's fire service, and providing public education programs to inform the general public about fire prevention. 

“The Division of Fire Safety is charged with ensuring that the fire service is well-trained and informed about the latest trends and their impacts,” said Lt. Governor Sheila Y. Oliver, who serves as Commissioner of the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs. “This valuable education and training not only helps the fire service achieve results on the ground, but also enhances their skills and abilities to perform hazardous job functions as safely as possible, leading to reduced injuries and fatalities.”   

Both events provided an opportunity for members of the fire service and professionals in the mental health, social services, law enforcement, and education fields to learn about trending topics affecting the fire service. 

The Mid-Atlantic Regional Fire Safety Summit, a full-day conference held on November 28 in Edison, NJ, attracted fire service professionals from across the region and the country. Highly-sought presenters spoke on topics such as school safety, college fire safety, and fire prevention in on-campus and off-campus housing to an audience of more than 200 attendees. 

“Last year’s summit was primarily attended by people from New Jersey with a few representatives from other states,” said State Fire Marshal Richard Mikutsky, who is Director of the Division of Fire Safety. “Once other states heard how worthwhile the summit was, they wanted to be part of it and signed on to help plan this year’s summit and to invite speakers. As a result, attendance more than doubled from last year.” 

The two-day Youth Firesetter Intervention Conference, now in its 16^th year, addressed the issue of youth fire setting throughout the state. Sixteen presenters from across the country addressed the theme “Reaching Everyone We Proudly Serve.” A curriculum of nine classes was offered on November 29 and 30, including topics such as Working with Parents of Juvenile Firesetters; Behavior Health Aspects of Youth Fire Intervention; and NJ Gang Awareness.  The keynote address, which addressed tolerance and ending bigotry, was provided by David L. D’Amico, Chief Investigator for the Middlesex County Department of Corrections and Youth Services. The conference was held in at the Middlesex Fire Academy in Sayreville, NJ. 

“On any given day, the fire service is faced with responding to any number of incidents including the handling of hazardous materials, conducting rescue operations, engaging in structural firefighting, performing emergency medical operations, and countless other situations,” said Fire Marshal Mikutsky. “The training the Division offers is a valuable and necessary component for successfully leading today’s fire service.” 

For more information about the Division of Fire Safety and their training programs, visit https://www.nj.gov/dca/divisions/dfs/ or follow the Department on social media: