FOR FIREFIGHTERS BY FIREFIGHTERS

Jeff Clifton
Jeff Clifton

Jeff Clifton, owner of FD Training International and creator of the Fire Engineer Training Simulator, has spent the last 20 years or so involved in the fire service, first in industrial fire brigades while working as an instrumentation technician at a refinery and power plants in west Texas.  From there, Jeff went into Nuclear Operations at the Nuclear Power Plant southwest of Fort Worth where he was also very involved in fire brigade operations.

In 1986, while Jeff was living in west Texas, a large wild land fire broke out not far from his home.  “A bunch of volunteer firemen saved my house from the fire.  Their professionalism and dedication to what they were doing was very impressive.  I don’t know if I ever had the chance to thank them for what they did”.  Shortly after that fire, Jeff was transferred to the Fort Worth area.  “There was a volunteer department not far from my house.  I wanted to ‘pay back’ the community, for when the volunteers saved my house in west Texas”.  Jeff joined the volunteer department and nothing was the same after that.  “I was hooked!”.  Jeff spent almost 13 years with the volunteer department, eventually becoming the Fire Chief.  A year and a half after joining the volunteer department, Jeff decided to make the fire service his career.  “I tested for the Fort Worth Texas Fire Department, and have been here ever since”.

While working in refineries, power plants, and other manufacturing operations as a computer programmer, instrumentation and electronics technician, Jeff was always fascinated with technology.  His passion for the fire service, technological background, and desire to improve fire service training led to the development of the Fire Engineer Training Simulator.  “I knew there had to be a better way to train engineers to operate a fire truck, with-out having a bunch of firefighters holding hoses and wasting a lot of water.  I was able to incorporate technology with fire service training”.  Jeff is quick to point out that the folks working with him have made this entire adventure possible.
“We have a great product, but its the people that make it successful”.
     


Kyle Clifton

Robin
Robin Clifton
Kyle Clifton may only be 14 years old, but he has got this electronics stuff figured out.  Under the watchful eye of his dad, Kyle helps build all of the Fire Engineer Training Simulators.  “He helps me out with all of the assembly work, the electronics work, and is starting to be a pretty good programmer as well” Jeff says.  Kyle and his dad have a great time working together and Kyle has even helped out with a couple of trade shows and new delivery training.  After simulator construction is complete, Kyle operates the fire truck during simulator calibration and testing.  At trade shows, Kyle runs the computer systems on the simulator while Jeff is demonstrating the machines’ capabilities at the pump panel.  Dad says, “We’re a great team and we have a lot of fun doing it”.
Robin Clifton is the master fabricator for FD Training International.  Robin was a career fireman in the 1970’s for the Big Spring Texas fire department.  After a few years, Robin branched out on his own to become a very successful building contractor and metal fabrication specialist.  Jeff says, “One thing I don’t ever have to worry about is the integrity of the recovery tank or stainless steel fabrication.  I know its done right”.  Robin’s background in metal fabrication has led to some significant design additions for the simulator.


Tim Wooten


Rusty Kaminicky
Tim Wooten is a captain with the DCBE/Acton VFD, which is located southwest of Fort Worth.  Tim is not only a very well respected fire officer, but also extremely knowledgeable when it comes to fire apparatus, fire pumps,  fire pump operations and making things work together.  Tim & Jeff spent untold hours with the Fire Engineer Training Simulator prototype.  They would connect the machine to the fire truck, test it, identify any design weakness’, make changes and then do it all over again.  “Tim is a huge asset, I couldn’t have done it without him”.
Rusty Kaminicky is the Assistant Fire Chief with the North Hood County VFD, located southwest of Fort Worth and is an instrumentation and electronics instructor at the nuclear power plant not far from Granbury Texas.  Rusty also takes care of mechanical, electronics and computer issues with Jeff at FDTI. 


Brian Wooten


William "Duck" Blackwelder
Brian Wooten is also a fire fighter with the DCBE/Acton VFD.  Brian helps out with simulator fabrication between fightin’ fires, with the VFD, attending the fire academy, and working with his dad, Tim. 
William “Duck” Blackwelder is a firefighter for the Forest Hill Texas fire department and is also on the rescue team at the Texas Motor Speedway.  Between the fire and EMS calls at Forest Hill and saving drivers on the track, Duck helps out with fabrication and assembly of the simulators.



While FDTI’s primary focus is the Fire Engineer Training Simulator, they have an aggressive R&D department.  FDTI is constantly striving to improve the simulator, develop new and innovative software for their clients, as well as develop new training techniques for fire the fire service. 

“We have some very exciting programs being developed to assist training officers worldwide with current challenges and those yet to come.  Stay Tuned....”