Firefighters step into leadership at Officer Training School

BOWLING GREEN, Ky. — The Bowling Green Fire Department is hosting its Officer Training School this week, bringing firefighters together to prepare for leadership roles within their departments.

The program focuses on developing the skills firefighters need when they move up in rank and begin leading crews during emergency responses. Leaders say the training helps prepare firefighters for the increased responsibility that comes with becoming a captain.

Bowling Green Fire Department chief Justin Brooks said the goal is to create an environment where firefighters feel both prepared and willing to step into those leadership roles.

“If we’ve done our job in creating an environment, giving them the tools and resources to be able to step up into the next leadership role, then hopefully we’ll have an abundance of personnel not only ready but also willing,” Brooks said. “It’s our job as leaders right now to create that environment, to allow them to grow and cultivate the next leader.”

During emergency calls, the shift in responsibility can be significant when firefighters move from riding in the back of the truck to leading the crew on scene.

Brooks said captains must think beyond the immediate task and focus on the safety and decision-making that affects both firefighters and the public.

“A lot of times when you ride in the back seat as a firefighter, you’re worried about the task,” Brooks said. “But the captain is not only worried about the task, they’re worried about the team. Their responsibility is to make decisions that affect life and death, not only for the citizens but for the firefighters. It’s pressure, but that pressure we feel is a privilege.”

Leaders say the training also helps strengthen partnerships between departments across the region. Multiple agencies are taking part, allowing firefighters to learn from one another and share different perspectives on leadership and emergency response.

Brooks said that collaboration helps improve service for the communities firefighters serve while continuing to develop the next generation of leaders in the profession.

As this year’s class wraps up, the department says it is already looking ahead to future training opportunities as more firefighters prepare to step into leadership roles.