The three fire academies in Montana all commence with the same basic rules and qualifications: High school diploma or GED, valid Montana driver’s license, 18 years or older, EMT-basic certification, vision corrected to 20/30, pre-employment medical exam and psych test (post offer of employment) and no tobacco use while on the job.

Cut and dry, this is where it starts for an individual who is serious about making firefighting a profession or to have a much broader knowledge of the vocation.

For Tifani Amberson, who became a firefighter for the Superior Volunteer Fire Department five months ago, this section is a done deal.

“After attending only a couple of trainings I asked Captain Scott Dodd, ‘How do I go further in the fire department?’ He then explained to me about this fire training academy and I followed up with ‘what do I need to do to get there?’” she said.

Amberson has been the dispatch supervisor with the Mineral County Sheriff’s Office, so she has firsthand knowledge of what hours the SVFD is called out, the frequency of responding along with the dangers they face and the locations they take action for emergencies.

She said, “Our whole lives adults tell us to run away from fire, now I am rewiring my thought process to say, ‘run toward the fire’. It is a very interesting concept to me.”

The Fire Services Training School is the state level agency charged with providing professional development for community fire and rescue services. FSTS is attached to the Extension Service of Montana State University in Bozeman. Students are submersed for two weeks in the classroom and have hands-on experience. Graduates are Firefighter I certified, which Amberson will be, plus she will be the first woman to have gained this level in Mineral County.

“I couldn’t be more excited opening this chapter of my life that I never knew I wanted to experience. When I first started with the Superior Fire Department, I had no idea what I was doing or even what my role in the department would look like. Not knowing what the academy was, I knew wanted to be there,” she said with a big smile.

Amberson said that she believes that SVFD truly is the definition of a family-team.

“Captain Scott Dodd, Chief Temple, Captain Josh Pecora and many others have taken personal time of theirs to build this department and the morale, making it a place we all enjoy coming.”

Temple retires Dec. 31 after five years as chief, but 17 total years with the department.

“Tifani is one of those with a strong work ethic and drive and she took the initiative to attend the academy after finding out there was such a school,” he said.

Upon her graduation, she will be one of four with Firefighter I certifications and two other volunteers have Firefighter II certificates with the SVFD.