Members meet to exchange ideas affecting emergency service training and to ensure that training objectives are met for all agencies.
Efforts are made to coordinate trainings within county fire agencies to avoid duplication of efforts and to promote interoperability within all agencies.
The Association works to ensure that all instruction is based on current local, state, and federal fire service training standards.
The M.I.T.O.A. is advancing to become a central coordination point for all agency training.
In addition, the Association aims to promote the development of the fire service through a progressive educational, public awareness, public relations, research and training program.
Coordinating and/or assisting in regional training grants is an additional objective of the
M.I.T.O.A.
Each year the M.I.T.O.A. conducts an annual Volunteer Firefighter Academy.
Firefighter trainees participate in over 200 hours of training over a six month period.
Basic education in radio communications, personal protective equipment, search and rescue, beginning fire behavior, building construction, structure ventilation, auto extrication, methods of attack, and more are part of the curriculum. Certifications in Fire Control 3A, Hazardous Materials First Responder Operations, Confined Space Rescue Awareness, S-130, S131, and S-190 Wildland Firefighter Training are also achieved.
Trainees participate in two live fire exercises and numerous drills to practice new skills.
In 2011, First Responder certification in emergency care was added to the academy curriculum.
