Vance firefighters recognized for meeting state standards Published July 16, 2014 71st Flying Training Wing Public Affairs VANCE AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. -- Forty-four Team Vance firefighters received certificates July 15 in the Fire Department's training room recognizing them as firefighters for the state of Oklahoma. Jon Hansen, the Oklahoma Council on Firefighting Training director, presented the first responders with advanced or master firefighter certifications. "These certificates represent reciprocity between our fire department and the state of Oklahoma," said Mark Morton, the Vance Fire Department assistant chief of training. Obtaining an advanced firefighting certification requires 295 hours of training in firefighting, emergency medical response and rapid intervention team training. Master firefighters have 418 hours of training in those same areas, and they are certified EMTs. "These certificates help unify training knowledge among firefighters across Oklahoma," said Wes Felber, a lead firefighter here. "If we respond to a mutual aid for something like a wildfire, the incident commander will know how experienced we are and how to divide teams quickly. You would not want four rookies together in a situation like that. This unity will prevent situations like that from happening." In the future, the state will recognize standard training completed by firefighters. Such as rescue schools, driving certificates, water rescue, and emergency medical response and hazardous material training.