Scholarship Information
The Northwest Florida Volunteer Firefighter Weekend Council, Inc. was awarded a FEMA SAFER grant in July 2011 and was successsfully completed in February 2016. During the 4 year grant period, we assisted over 200 volunteer firefighters in obtaining their Firefighter I cerftification from Florida State Fire College. Also, we awarded over 90 sets of PPE to the newly recruited and certified volunteer firefighters.
The Council applied for FY2016 SAFER grant to continue this program and in September 2017, we were notified that we were award a SAFER grant to provide scholarships over the next 4 years to attend certain Firefighter I classes, Wildland, and Recruitment and Retention Workshop. The SAFER grant also provided for PPE for newly recruited volunteer firefighters, reimbursement for the NFPA 1582 Medical Exam for newly recruited Florida volunteer firefighters, and certified fire instructors to assist Florida volunteer fire department members in completing the Firefighter I Practical Skills Task Book.
Florida State Fire College is utilizing a Skills
Task Book for completing Firefighter I certification. The
Taskbooks contains the required skills (JPRs) that are to be
demonstrated and signed off by two certified fire instructors along with
completion of live fire evolutions. Below is a link to this
Taskbook.
Florida Firefighter I Task Book
Scholarships
The Northwest Florida
Volunteer Firefighter Weekend Council, Inc. was awarded a FEMA SAFER
grant in September 2016 for the amount of $938,000 which is to be spread
over the next 4 years. This Grant will be used to provide
scholarships for those attending the Event.
The following courses will be awarded a scholarship on a first come-first
serve basis:
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S-130/S-190/L180 - The scholarship is only for students obtaining their Florida FF I Certificate of Completion. The scholarship will pay for lost wages from Wednesday through Sunday, per diem, 5 nights of lodging, and mileage.
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Florida Firefighter I Skills Task Book, 2nd Signature Sign Off - The scholarship is only for students obtaining their Florida FF I Certificate of Completion. The scholarship will pay for lost wages on Thursday and Friday, per diem, 2 nights of lodging, and mileage.
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Live Fire Evolutions - The scholarship is only for students obtaining their Florida FF I Certificate of Completion. The scholarship will pay for per diem, 2 nights of lodging, and mileage.
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Beyond Hoses and Helmets - This 2 day course is for Chief Officer's and those members involved in the recruitment and retention of volunteer firefighters. The scholarship will pay for per diem, 2 nights of lodging, and mileage or airfare. Scholarship application is not needed for this course. You will be emailed additional information after registration is confirmed.
Scholarship Application (To attend one of the above training courses)
After registering online for the Northwest Florida Volunteer Firefighter Weekend, complete and return the Scholarship Application by faxing it to us at 877-468-7309 or scan and email it to us. You will be notified by email if you are awarded a scholarship. If you are awarded a scholarship, then you will need to make your hotel reservations as follows: S130/S190- Comfort Suites; Task Book Sign Off and/or Live Burn- Quality Inn. Once you make your reservation, we ask that you please email us so we can have your room charged to our account. After completing the training, you will submit a reimbursement form for your lost wages (if applicable), per diem, and mileage at $0.545/mile for POV. This form will be emailed to you after the Event.
Space is limited! Registration will begin June 1, 2018. The scholarship form is a "Form Fillable PDF", we ask that you please complete the form on your computer before printing it. Illegible forms will not be processed. Thank you.
PPE Scholarships
The Northwest Florida Volunteer Firefighter
Weekend Council, Inc. SAFER grant is designed to help volunteer fire
departments in Florida to recruit and retain volunteer firefighters.
By attending and successfully completing the 2nd signature for the
Florida Firefighter I Skills Task Book and Live Fire Evolutions or
the S130/S190/L180 at our annual event , the department maybe
eligible to receive a complete set of firefighting gear (pants,
coat, helmet, boots, gloves and hood) for FREE once their
firefighter submits a copy of their Certificate of Completion
Volunteer Firefighter from the Bureau of Fire Standards and
Training.
To be eligible
for a voucher for PPE, the applicant and his/her Fire Chief must
complete the PPE Scholarship Application form below. The Council will review these
applications and advise the Fire Chief before the event in September so the
firefighter can be sized for the gear. If your fire department
is awarded, the Fire Chief will be given a voucher after the
firefighter successfully completes Florida Firefighter Part I to
purchase a pre-determined set of firefighter gear from our vendor.
PPE Scholarship Application (Now Available)
NFPA 1582 Medical Scholarships
The Council's SAFER grant will provide for reimbursement up to $150 for the cost of the required medical exam (NFPA 1582) to enter into firefighter training for the newly recruited Florida volunteer firefighter. The newly recruited member must submit a copy of their Volunteer Firefighter Certificate of Completion prior to award. Click on the link below for complete information and application.
Medical Scholarship Application (Now Accepting Applications)
Florida Firefighter I Task Book Skills Sign-Off's Assistance
Through the Council's SAFER grant, we will provide up to two (2) certified fire instructors at no charge to a host agency to assist with the completion of the Florida Firefighter I Task Book. For more information on this program, email Patrick Garvey at training@nwflvolunteerffweekend.com.
CLICK HERE for a link to a worksheet that can be used by
Volunteer Fire Departments to record training that will enable the
Bureau of Fire Standards and Training (Florida State Fire College) to issue an updated Volunteer
Firefighter Certification that will reflect 206 hours of training
completed.