Erich Thiemann is also a lead instructor for the North Pinellas County Training Group, a consortium made up of six fire departments that train with each other every month.

DUNEDIN – Division Chief of Training Erich Thiemann was awarded the 2018 Florida State Fire Service Instructor of the Year for his exceptional contributions as a fire service instructor.

Thiemann has displayed a strong commitment to Florida’s fire service by teaching and encouraging others to improve themselves and to help guide Dunedin Fire Rescue in the pursuit of excellence, city officials said.

Thiemann is a lead instructor for the North Pinellas County Training Group, a consortium made up of six fire departments that train with each other every month. In addition, Thiemann is active in the Pinellas County Training Officers Association and has been instrumental in helping to organize the Pinellas County Company Officers Development Seminar for several years. More recently. Thiemann developed and implemented an Active Shooter program that he researched for more than two years before he was satisfied that it was appropriate to deliver.

Thiemann is a leader in researching and implementing health and safety programs and is also certified as a Florida Fire Service Instructor III, is certified to instruct live fire drills, emergency vehicle operation, and fire service suicide prevention. Thiemann is a regular attendee of the Florida Health and Safety Symposium as well as the Bureau of Fire Standards and Training Instructor Conference.

While Thiemann does a lot to contribute to the fire service by researching and developing training programs, Dunedin officials said that Thiemann is an inspirational instructor because of the exceptional way in which he is able to pass on his knowledge to audiences of any generation. He is successful in part because of a gifted memory but more so because of his creative approach to program delivery. He often takes boring topics and links them with a humorous movie or TV theme as a way of connecting the subject and making it fun and captivating.

For information about the Dunedin Fire Department, go to dunedingov.com.

Dunedin Fire Department’s Division Chief of Training Erich Thiemann is shown receiving his award at the Florida Fire Chiefs’ Association (FFCA) conference in Dayton Beach this past January. Pictured, from left, Tim Pilson (FSFSI), Chief Otto Drozd (FFCA President), Division Chief Erich Thiemann, Fire Chief Jeff Parks, Deputy Chief Trip Barrs. Photo courtesy of the city of Dunedin.

Dunedin Fire | Erich Thiemann | Fire Instructor of the Year | Tampabay News

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