Training Topic
The Blue Card Program
Presented by Presented by Alan & Nick Brunacini
Phoenix Fire Department
A command training and certification program for fire department officers who manage IDLH incident operations. There are 3 major components to the program:
1. 50 hour online training program.
2. 3-day certification lab.
3. Train the Trainer program.
Our website is www.bshifter.com has much information regarding the program. We also produce a quarterly magazine called BShifter. It is a free online magazine that contains quite a bit of content that support the program. Each issue is available on the website.
Here are a list of individuals in California that are currently using the Blue Card system.
North Zone of San Deigo County. This includes the Oceanside, San Marcos, Vista, Escondido plus 13 other fire departments that operate together in the North Zone. Joe Ward just got promoted to Ops Chief. He was the Training Chief that helped deliver the training over the last couple of years. His contact info:
Joe Ward - jward@ci.oceanside.ca.us 760-214-3399
Air Force Space Command - This is all Air Force bases that launch stuff into outer space and includes Vandenberg Air Force Base. Mark Smith and Sean Glaser are both chiefs in that department (Mark is also a Section Chief on a Type2 overhead team). Sean’s contact info is sean.glaser@af.mil.us 805-478-2322
The Anaheim FD is currently using Blue Card. AC Derek Alkonis, the Training Chief for LA County has a group of officers evaluating the program.
The San Jose FD and Santa Clara County have been doing Blue Card for several years now.
California is one of the fastest growing Blue Card markets.
One of the biggest Blue Card customers is the Federal Government - FEMA has been providing grant money for Blue Card for the last 4-5 years.
Blue Card supports and is 100% compatible with NIMS.
It would be our pleasure to come present a 90 minute overview of the system at your January 15 Chief’s meeting.
Alan Brunacini
Fire Chief (ret.) Phoenix Fire Department
Alan Brunacini joined the Phoenix Fire Department in 1958. He served in every department position. He was promoted to Fire Chief in 1978 and retired in 2006. He is a graduate of the Fire Protection Technology program at Oklahoma State University. He has a degree in Political Science and MPA from Arizona State University. He is the past Chairman of the Board of the National Fire Protection Association and the NFPA Fire Service Occupational Safety Committee (standard 1500). He is the current Chairman of the NFPA Career Fire Service Organization and Deployment Committee (standard 1710). He and his two sons John and Nick have developed and are teaching the local command level Blue Card hazard zone management program. This is being distributed globally by their partner Global Risk Innovations/Medteq Solutions CA Ltd.
They also present workshops, seminars and conferences to fire departments throughout North America on various topics. He is the author of Fire Command, Command Safety, Timeless Tactical Truths, Essentials of Fire Department Customer Service and The Anatomy and Physiology of Leadership. He is currently working on several other fire service books.
Nick Brunacini
Deputy Chief (ret.) Phoenix FD, AZ
Nick Brunacini began his fire career in 1980. He worked as a firefighter for 7 years, 10 years as a captain, 5 years as a battalion chief and 7 years as a shift commander. He is a co-author of the Blue Card training and certification program. In 2002 Nick was a member of the group that produced the first Command Training Center. He has co-authored Fire Command, Command Safety and the Anatomy & Physiology of Leadership. Nick has also written the book, B-Shifter, A Firefighter’s Memoir.
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