As a leader in firefighter education, the West Virginia University Fire Service Extension has ensured skilled emergency response personnel are able to protect the state’s communities by selecting two seasoned firefighters to lead the program.

Mark Lambert, who has more than 20 years of experience with the West Virginia State Fire Marshal’s Office and has served as an adjunct faculty instructor with the Fire Service Extension, has assumed his new role as the program leader.

It’s a homecoming for Lambert, also a WVU alumnus.

“I’m a true product of the WVU Fire Service Extension, which has a proud history of educating emergency service personnel,” Lambert said. “The very first firefighter class I took was taught by Fire Service adjunct faculty and I’m proud to come home, so to speak.”

During his time with the State Fire Marshall’s Office, Lambert held a variety of positions – most recently the field deputy in charge of the investigation and public education divisions. In addition to those duties, Lambert was instrumental in developing, analyzing and implementing policies regarding training, media relations and employee health.

In addition to Lambert, Ralph McNemar will join the WVU Fire Service Extension as a program coordinator from the Center for National Response, where he served as the director of training. The Center for National Response is a dedicated exercise facility that runs training for military, federal, state and local organizations.

Their backgrounds will help the WVU Fire Service Extension continue to provide comprehensive and critical training in more than combatting simple fires. Trainings include aircraft rescue, chemical spills, industrial fire brigades, vehicle extrication, confined spaces and more.

Trainings take place primarily at the State Fire Training Academy, located at WVU Jackson’s Mill near Weston. However, trainings are also mobile. Lambert noted that through the mobile fire training and aircraft rescue firefighting units, they can provide programming not only statewide, but to areas outside of West Virginia, which commonly include industrial sites and military bases.

The program also offers more unique programs, such as the Junior Firefighter Camp.

During the summer, future emergency responders convene at the WVU Fire Service Extension for the camp. Youth learn firefighting basics while developing leadership, camaraderie and life skills through hands-on training from professional firefighters.

Lambert also mentioned that the most important lesson that the Junior Firefighter Camp teaches youths is volunteerism, which is in steep decline across the nation.

“Programs like our Junior Firefighter Camp is an excellent way to bolster numbers for the future generation – volunteering is critical, because often a volunteer company is first on scene in most areas of our state,” Lambert said.

Besides increasing volunteerism, Lambert wants to improve upon firefighter care, mentioning a variety of health issues that can be addressed by collaborating with University program units to develop curriculum to remind firefighters to take time out of their schedules to care for themselves, too.

“Lanny Adkins was instrumental in keeping the program going as interim director and we’re thankful,” Lambert said. “Proceeding forward, we’re proud and excited to continue on a tradition of education by offering essential training to the men and women from emergency response departments from all across the state and nation.”

For more information regarding the WVU Fire Service Extension or any of their programs, call 304-269-0875 or visit fireservice.ext.wvu.edu.

-WVU-

zl/04/21/15

CONTACT: Cassie Thomas, WVU Extension Service
304.293.8735, Cassie.Thomas@mail.wvu.edu

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