Town NIMS Certification

The town is scrambling to keep up with the NIMS (National Incident Management System) training.

According to Emergency Management Director Doug Field, the training, sponsored by the Federal Emergency Management Agency, is required of first responders, the Emergency Management Director, police officers, fire fighters, and members of the Select Board. The training is often complicated, with the Fire Chief, Police Chief and Emergency Management Director required to take eight courses. If town officials are not fully qualified by September 30, the town may lose its eligibility for federal funds.

Fortunately, Field said, the courses are free, and many are available online and can be completed within a few hours. Some courses required of fire fighters and police officers, though also free, require a time commitment of 20 to 30 hours for in-person training.

Field said that he and Fire Chief Del Haskins are nearly qualified and expect to be fully qualified by the deadline. The Fire Department is also fully qualified.

Field also reported that three years ago, “our administrative assistant was told to put it in to the Federal Government that Ashfield was fully qualified. We weren’t.”

Resident Suzanne Corbett asked specifically if our prior Emergency Management Director was qualified. Field replied that he was not.

David King