Oceanside Fire Department Training Division strives to provide relevant, quality instruction and educational opportunities to all employees to foster a career based on a learning mindset. 

The Training Division's goal is to prepare employees within our department to serve our community safely, effectively, and efficiently now and in the future by embracing innovation coupled with experience and expertise. 

The cornerstones of our foundation for fostering a learning mindset include the following:

• Academies for all New Hires and Newly Promoted employees.
• Scenario-based practical evolutions to address real-life incidents.
• Incorporating new techniques and innovative approaches in resolving emergency incidents. 
• Employee development for both career enhancement and progression.  

The Oceanside Training Division delivers high quality training and education with an emphasis on continuous improvement of customer service delivery, operational effectiveness and safety, risk management, and personal development.

Training is provided to the entire Fire Department according to Federal, State, County, and City mandates. Training Division personnel also assist in providing training to other City departments and other agencies throughout the county. Consolidation of training classes with other departments pays large dividends when operating on mutual aid emergency incidents.

There are currently three personnel assigned to the Fire Training Division: one Battalion Chief, one Captain, and one Training Specialist. The Training Facility is located at 110 Jones Road adjacent to the Water Department. At this location is a state of art command training center, training classroom, burn building commercial and residential roof props, flashover prop, confine space props and training tower.

Please feel free to contact the Training Division with any questions or concerns. As a modern fire department, we find that "thinking outside of the box" helps to accomplish all of the department's goals in an efficient and effective manner.

The department continues its commitment to the community and its citizens with training to fulfill our mission “to deliver the best possible service to our community.”

More Information on Career Opportunities at the Oceanside Fire Department

Fire Training Tower

In July 2022, the Oceanside Fire Department unveiled the Everett Stephens Fire Training Tower. This four-story, state-of-the-art Fire Training facility was funded by Measure X, Oceanside's half-cent sales tax measure.

This modern building provides opportunities for scenario-based training for the incidents we may encounter.  From rescuing people from multiple floors to extinguishing garage fires and everything in between this tower provides the essential component to ensure safe, effective operations.

Command Training Center (CTC)

The Oceanside Fire Department Command Training Center is a state-of-the-art facility located at our Training Division and represents the future of incident command training. Using interactive simulations of routine and large-scale incidents, Chiefs and Company officers are given the opportunity to develop and hone the skills necessary to successfully manage fire ground emergencies. Ultimately, these command decisions will result in the preservation of property and the reduction of firefighter and civilian injuries and deaths.

Our CTC training program utilizes the Blue Card Command curriculum and is currently one of only three recognized Blue Card Command Training Centers in California. The program requires participants to successfully complete a 50-hour online course before being evaluated in the Simulation Laboratory. The evaluation process is completed over a three-day period at the CTC, and participants who successfully complete both portions of the program receive nationally recognized certification as a “Blue Card Incident Commander.”

The Blue Card Command Certification Program is a state of the art training and certification system that teaches Company and Command Officers how to standardize local incident operations across their organization. The program uses a combination of online and in-class simulation training which results in an Incident Commander solution that finally addresses local Hazard Zone operations.

The Blue Card Incident Commander Training and Certification Program are designed to manage local, NIMS Type 4 and 5 incidents. These two incident types account for more than 99 percent of a department’s incident activity. Until the advent of Blue Card, there has not been a curriculum or standard for an Incident Commander to manage a local, Type 4 and 5 Hazard Zone Incident Command Systems. Blue Card training is a critical component of fire officer development. This particular Command Training facility greatly enhances the realism and quality of emergency scene management training. The laboratory is configured to simulate "real-world" training in a variety of emergency situations encompassing incidents such as:

• Residential fires
• Multi-unit residential
• Strip mall commercial
• Small to medium size commercial
• Big box stores
• Hazardous materials releases
• Mass casualty incidents
• Wildland incidents

Computer projection models are used to provide visual clues, which are generated through the use of special effects, graphics, and animation software. These are controlled through a standard computer by menu-driven software. The goal of the simulation training is to provide firefighters with a variety of visual and auditory cues that will enhance the decision-making process in practical situations.

Realism is enhanced with the use of the following props:

• 16 separate interactive unit consoles
• Instructor console to run incident
• Several big screen monitors to evaluate incident
• Separate room for first in Incident Commanders
• Dispatch console, with live CAD terminal, radio and tone generator
• An exterior garage to allow Oceanside command Vehicle and visiting agencies the ability to utilize their own command vehicle during the simulation exercise.

To learn more about the Blue Card Incident Command training, please visit Blue Card Command.