No matter your experience level, whether you are an experienced firefighter or just starting out in the fire service. The Phoenix Fire Academy has the right program for you. The academy was created to introduce women into the fire service. It provides hands-on training as well as opportunities for women to get to know the fire service. Phoenix Fire Academy is not only a training facility for firefighters, but also offers events for women interested in pursuing a career in fire service.
Phoenix Fire Department has the most fire departments in Arizona. It responds to an enormous number of emergencies. On average, the department has had three to four new recruits per year. The department's fire academy program is expected to grow over the next five-years as more retired firefighters join the ranks. The first class will include a mixture of returning and new firefighters. The department has also established a buffer time, which allows recruits to attend an extra training class if they are ill.
Phoenix Fire Department offers free physical examinations to all members, both current and retired. This will help the department ensure that it meets its health care obligations under the National Fire Protection Association 1582. This will also make sure that the city's healthcare plan remains affordable. A physical exam will be performed by the department's medical center.
Phoenix Fire Department provides a range of training opportunities both for civilian and sworn firefighters. These include both specialty schools for sworn and unsworn employees and the in-service academy program. The Phoenix Fire Department has also made a number of improvements to its firefighter training program, including the opening of instructional classrooms for social distancing purposes. Also, the department's custodial service is being improved. It can now thoroughly clean its facilities using fog and cleaning wipes.
Phoenix Fire Department, being the largest fire service in Arizona, is launching a new initiative called The Phoenix Firefighters Unit Trust Fund. This trust fund will be administered by the United Phoenix Firefighters Chapter 493. This will allow the firefighters to pay a portion of their salary to the city's health fund each pay period. The innovative pay plan will allow firefighters to take part in market adjustments-based pay plans. This plan will be in effect for fiscal years 2022-2025. In order to provide additional funding, each $50 contribution will be matched by the department.
The Phoenix Fire Department is also planning a number of other innovations to help the city and its fire fighters in the future. The department plans to increase interoperability among automatic aid situations and to better utilize its data center, communications systems, and data center. These improvements are part a larger effort by the Phoenix Fire Department to be a model in urban firefighting, public safety and emergency management in the state.