Recently, the City of Bishop brought together employees from multiple local agencies for hands-on fire extinguisher safety training, demonstrating how collaborative approaches to workplace safety can strengthen emergency preparedness across the region. The training, conducted annually by the city for its 45 full-time employees, was opened to other California Joint Powers Insurance Authority (California JPIA) member agencies in the area to enhance the learning experience and foster regional collaboration.
Hands-on fire extinguisher training helps employees understand and discern between when it is appropriate to intervene and when evacuation is the safest option. While fires at city facilities are relatively infrequent, even small incidents can escalate quickly if employees are unsure how to respond.
“The intent isn’t to turn employees into emergency responders, but to improve awareness, confidence, and decision-making during the first moments of a fire while supporting Cal/OSHA and Injury and Illness Prevention Program requirements,” said Tony Leite, the California JPIA senior risk manager for the region.
For the City of Bishop, which operates with a volunteer fire department, having all staff receive the same safety training provides a common knowledge base during emergency response. The training familiarizes employees with different types of fire extinguishers and teaches them when and how to use them.
“Having all the staff receive the same training means we are all speaking the same language when we respond,” said City of Bishop City Clerk Robin Picken.
The training isn’t limited to hypothetical scenarios: staff complete a live fire exercise. “We all agreed that we benefited from the training, especially the hands-on operation of a fire extinguisher on a real fire,” Picken said. “It also got everyone thinking about the safety of their family at home, and how important it is to have a fire and earthquake emergency plan.”
The Authority tailors fire extinguisher trainings to reflect the environments employees work in, whether public works yards, utilities, office buildings, or parks and facilities. Content is adjusted to address the types of equipment, materials, and real-world scenarios staff are most likely to encounter. “This training reflects a proactive investment in safety and preparedness rather than a reaction to an incident,” Leite said.
For the City of Bishop, the training contributes to a broader culture of safety by ensuring all employees learn important safety procedures together. “Creating a culture of safety really means getting everyone on the same page on how to respond to an emergency and then how to communicate on what went right or what could be improved,” Picken said.
The city plans to continue the training annually while also scheduling periodic refresher courses on topics such as first amendment auditor response, hazard communication, fall protection awareness, traffic control, and trench and excavation safety. Picken also encourages staff to attend the Annual Risk Management Educational Forum and take advantage of online training resources available through their myJPIA accounts. “Keep your staff informed, learning, and developing both personally and professionally,” Picken said. “It shows that our agency cares and is invested in not only staff safety, but also their future growth.”
Fire extinguisher training is part of a broader range of Authority resources including emergency preparedness training, CPR/AED and first aid, equipment-specific safety training, hazard communication, and risk management evaluations that help agencies address exposures beyond training alone. The Authority has also implemented updates to training software to help agencies keep employee rosters current and created online training schedules to assist in managing past, present, and future trainings.
For more information about the Authority’s full suite of risk management resources, visit the risk management services webpage.
About California JPIA
Providing innovative risk management solutions for its public agency partners for more than 45 years, the California Joint Powers Insurance Authority (California JPIA) is one of the largest municipal self-insurance pools in the state, with more than 125 member cities and other governmental agencies. Members actively participate in shaping the organization to provide important coverage for their operations. The California JPIA provides innovative risk management solutions through a comprehensive portfolio of programs and services, including liability, workers’ compensation, pollution, property, and earthquake coverage, as well as extensive training and loss control services. For more information, please visit the California JPIA’s website at cjpia.org.