In January and February of 2006 Charlie Dickinson, Deputy U.S. Fire Administrator, announced that three new command and control online simulation courses were available for emergency responders.

Each one involving a differing scenario. The first one occurs at a Nursing Home facility and simulation presents the user with a kitchen fire in a two- story nursing home. The user will be able to recognize the rescue issues related to this type of occupancy - those people who have differing medical problems and those people who are visiting.

The second is a scenario involving a typical single-family dwelling known as the "Ranch House" and involves a scenario depicting a single-story, single-family dwelling and presents the student with a "room-and-contents" fire and basic rescue problems.

The third is a townhouse simulation presents the user with a set of complex fire and rescue problems commonly found commonly in a townhouse, row house,
garden apartment, or condominium response.

All three are available on the USFA's Virtual Campus.

Upon successful completion of these online simulation courses, the user will be able to recognize the cues and problems associated with the type of incident presented. Overall the course objectives are the rescue and safe removal of occupants and ultimate control of the incident.

A National Fire Academy (NFA)/United States Fire Administration (USFA) certification will be granted upon successful completion of the course evaluations.

The course can be found on USFA's Virtual Campus at www.training.fema.gov.

The USFA has many other training programs, both online and classroom-based, that are designed to assist emergency responders in becoming better prepared for all types of emergencies. Information on these training programs and other USFA initiatives and publications can be found at www.usfa.fema.gov.