Tidewater Regional Fire Academy

nal Fire Academy has developed in to a full time, fifteen-week recruit school staffed by state certified training officers representing the ten area departments that combine to form TRFA. TRFA is a regionalized training approach that shares resources and facilities to deliver the most modern and highest quality fire and rescue training in the Country. The Tidewater Regional Fire Academy utilizes a distributive campus concept in conjunction with the sharing of resources and instructors that allow each department to minimize infrastructure cost thereby, minimizing the total training expenditure for new recruit training. Since its inception in 1979 the Tidewater Regional Fire Academy has been strongly supported by all of the participating jurisdictions. A Board of Directors that consists of the member jurisdictions Fire Chief’s and is led by a Chairperson nominated and elected by the Board of Directors governs TRFA. An Advisory Board consisting of the member jurisdictions training officers assists the Board of Directors. The TRFA Advisory Board led by a Chairperson nominated and elected by the members of the Advisory Board serves the Board of Directors as directed; reviews policies, procedures and best practices in the fire and rescue service, makes recommendations to the Board of Directors, and conducts program evaluations. The Tidewater Regional Fire Academy has been utilized as a model for regional training programs across the Nation. The success of this program lies within the commitment made by each department to continue to manage a highly successful regionalized program.