Scranton, Pa. — November 5 — Personnel of the Scranton Fire Department participated in two advanced training courses to enhance their instructional and technical preparedness. The Virginia Beach Fire Department and Virginia Task Force 2 Urban Search and Rescue Team sponsored a structural collapse specialist course for firefighters. Along with other fundamental collapse-rescue techniques, the course included concrete breaching and breaking, internal and exterior shoring, and real crane operations.

Additionally, Assistant Chief Irwin finished the Pennsylvania State Fire Academy's Fire Instructor Development course. The program's main objectives were to evaluate the policies and procedures required for safe instructional work, as well as to organize and carry out live-fire training. When taken as a whole, the courses improved the department's training program and operating skills.