Local officials say the state is playing with fire by yanking funding to train some of Connecticut’s first responders.
Regional fire schools help firefighters fulfill Occupational Safety and Health Administration requirements and qualify for certifications, and the facilities provide live-burn training.
The Fairfield Regional Fire School has been a strong advocate for continued state funding, said Scott Bisson, its director of training. Bisson is also chief of training and safety for the Fairfield Fire Department.
“We conduct many different types of training, mostly focused on emergency services,” Bisson said.
The school received a total of more than $540,000 in grant support from the state from 2008 to 2017, and was scheduled to receive $70,000 for the fiscal year that ends this June, Bisson said.