Fire Services Training Institute

What Fire Services Training Institute does

Fire Services Training Institute (FSTI) is a California non-profit public benefit corporation, founded in 2006 and headquartered in Santa Barbara, with a secondary operations site in Goleta. It operates as part of the California State Firefighters' Association (CSFA) corporate family and serves the state's volunteer public safety community — including volunteer, non-profit, industrial, and tribal fire agencies — through a portfolio of free, membership-gated programs. Core delivery is built on an online training and communication platform (the FSTI Library Portal) backed by three email-based list-serve networks: FSTINet for fire training professionals, LAAFMANet (>900 members) for Los Angeles Area Fire Marshals, and CalArsonNet for arson and cause-and-origin investigators. Member-exclusive content layers include "Table Talk with Ronny J. Coleman" interview series, "The Briefing Room with Michael S. Williams," and "Ronny's Body of Knowledge," a 40-plus-year archive of writings by the retired California State Fire Marshal.

FSTI's product surface spans emergency preparedness (Alertar y Preparar / California for All LISTOS, powered by Everbridge for Santa Barbara County alerts; National CERT Association sponsorship and the 2026 National CERT Conference in Irvine), publishing (Deer Valley Press wildland fire textbooks by Chief William Teie, distributed via Fire Protection Publications at Oklahoma State University), and industry recognition (the Howard W. Rayon Distinguished Service Award presented annually at the CSFA conference). Bilingual outreach is led by LISTOS National Administrator Sam Nader. All services are free, with access gated only by online membership registration.

The business model is non-commercial and donation-supported. Revenue consists of corporate donations and individual sponsorship, with secondary contributed income from Deer Valley Press publishing royalties and pass-through grants (e.g., U.S. Forest Service Cooperative Fire Program via California Fire Safe Council). Pricing is a free/membership-only model; the headcount band of 11–50 employees reflects a lean operational structure. There are no funding rounds, equity investors, or M&A transactions on record, consistent with FSTI's affiliation with the CSFA corporate family and the absence of traditional capital-raising activity.

Name

Fire Services Training Institute

Legal name

Fire Services Training Institute

Website

https://cafsti.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2006

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Fire Services Training Institute (FSTI) is a California non-profit founded in 2006 that provides free training, communication networks, and emergency preparedness programs to the state's volunteer, non-profit, industrial, and tribal fire agencies through a membership-gated online portal and list-serve platforms.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Public Safety Training Services

NAICS

Educational Support Services (61171)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Firefighter & Fire Service Training (EDAOAMAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Occupant Fire Safety Training, Drills & Warden Programs (BPABAHAM), Community Resilience, Preparedness Training & Exercises (HLAJAGAL)

Keywords

• Fire service training
• Emergency preparedness programs
• Wildland firefighter education
• Community emergency response
• Volunteer firefighter resources

Headquarters

HQ city

Santa Barbara

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Sponsorships: FSTI is supported by corporate donations and individual sponsorship. Services are provided free to members but funded through external contributions.
2. Publication Sales: Revenue generated through Deer Valley Press wildland fire training textbooks, including Firefighter's Handbook on Wildland Firefighting and Leadership for the Wildland Fire Officer, published through Fire Protection Publications, Oklahoma State University.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Fire Services Training Institute provides free, membership-based training and emergency preparedness resources to the volunteer public safety community in California. Core offerings include three email-based communication networks (FSTINet, LAAFMANet, CalArsonNet) that connect thousands of fire training professionals, fire marshals, and arson investigators statewide; member-exclusive content such as Table Talk interviews, The Briefing Room, and the FSTI Library Portal; the LISTOS/Alertar y Preparar emergency alert subscription powered by Everbridge; and wildland fire training textbooks published through Deer Valley Press.

Product overview

Fire Services Training Institute (FSTI) operates as a non-profit training organization providing a portfolio of interconnected programs to the California volunteer public safety community. Its core offerings include three communication networks — FSTINet, LAAFMANet, and CalArsonNet — which serve as free list-serve platforms connecting thousands of fire training professionals, fire marshals, and arson investigators statewide. Member-exclusive resources include the FSTI Library Portal, Table Talk interview series with Chief Ronny J. Coleman, and The Briefing Room with Mike Williams — both hosting expert interviews, articles, and research documents. FSTI also administers the Alertar y Preparar / California for All LISTOS emergency alert subscription service (powered by Everbridge), publishes wildland fire training textbooks through Deer Valley Press, supports National CERT programs, and offers the Howard W. Rayon Distinguished Service Award. Ronny's Body of Knowledge provides a searchable archive of over 40 years of Coleman's fire service writings. Services are free but require membership registration.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Alertar y Preparar LISTOS: Emergency preparedness and alert program for Santa Barbara County communities, providing notifications about potential safety hazards via voice, email, or text.
• Deer Valley Press
• FSTINet
• Howard W. Rayon Distinguished Service Award

Products and services

• FSTINet / LAAFMANet / CalArsonNet Communication Networks A trio of free email list-serve networks — FSTINet for fire training professionals, LAAFMANet for Los Angeles Area Fire Marshals, and CalArsonNet for arson/cause-and-origin peace officers and investigators — providing statewide communication, resource sharing, and coordination among thousands of California fire service members.
• Deer Valley Press Wildland Fire Training Textbooks A publishing imprint producing Chief William Teie's wildland fire training textbooks, including the Firefighter's Handbook on Wildland Firefighting and Leadership for the Wildland Fire Officer, published through Fire Protection Publications at Oklahoma State University.
• Alertar y Preparar / California for All LISTOS Emergency Alerts A free emergency alert subscription service enabling Santa Barbara County public safety agencies to send hazard notifications (voice, text, email) to registered residents, homes, and businesses through the Everbridge platform.
• FSTI Library Portal A members-only digital library providing registered members with access to FSTI's collection of training resources, research documents, and member-exclusive training materials.
• Table Talk with Chief Ronny J. Coleman An interview series hosted by Michael S. Williams and set in active California fire stations, covering fire service operations, prevention, training, leadership, and management based on retired California State Fire Marshal Ronny J. Coleman's book The Chief's Clipboard (2006). Available to FSTI members.
• The Briefing Room with Mike Williams A member knowledge-collection platform featuring articles, research documents, and subject-matter-expert interviews within the public safety community, including access to Mike's Library and a growing body of knowledge database.
• Ronny's Body of Knowledge A searchable archive of Chief Ronny J. Coleman's published articles, columns, textbooks, and training materials spanning over 40 years of fire service writing, organized by subject category for member use.
• 2026 National CERT Conference National conference for Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) Program Managers, volunteers, and emergency management professionals, celebrating the 40th anniversary of the CERT program (1986-2026) at the Hyatt Regency Irvine, CA.

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• California State Firefighters' Association (CSFA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFSTI is part of the CSFA corporate family. CSFA and FSTI, in mutual agreement with LAAFMA, announced FSTINet and CalArsonNet communication networks. CSFA Arson Committee oversees CalArsonNet access approval process.
• Los Angeles Area Fire Marshal's Association (LAAFMA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLAAFMA joined with CSFA and FSTI to create FSTINet and CalArsonNet networks. LAAFMA Discussion List network has more than 900 members in California.
• National CERT AssociationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFSTI is a sponsor of the National CERT Association and hosts information about CERT programs. FSTI is involved in organizing the 2026 National CERT Conference celebrating 40 years of CERT.
• California Office of Emergency Services (Cal-OES)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBrian Woodbeck recently retired as Deputy Chief from Cal-OES after 12 years with the agency. Cal-OES is listed as a partner organization and training resource.
• Deer Valley PresscoreTechnology or IntegrationChief William Teie's Deer Valley Press wildland fire training textbooks are recognized worldwide. Publications include Firefighter's Handbook on Wildland Firefighting and Leadership for the Wildland Fire Officer, published through Fire Protection Publications, Oklahoma State University.
• LISTOS / California for AllcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFSTI sponsors the Alertar y Preparar LISTOS program for emergency preparedness. LISTOS has moved to a new improved website and is completely free.
• Aware and Prepare InitiativecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFSTI sponsors the Aware and Prepare Initiative in Santa Barbara County for emergency alerts through the ReadySBC system via voice, text and email.
• Hubie PicturesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDave and Barbara Hubert's HUBIE cartoon series and traveling horse-drawn American Steam Fire Engine. FSTI hosts their website as part of member resources.
• Fire Protection Publications, Oklahoma State UniversitycoreTechnology or IntegrationDeer Valley Press wildland fire training textbooks are published through Fire Protection Publications at Oklahoma State University.
• Wildland Residents AssociationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFunding provided by grant from Cooperative Fire Program of U.S. Forest Service through California Fire Safe Council. Co-producer of Community Alert radio show.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Market position

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/ap_listos1
• Facebookfacebook.com/CAFSTI
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/fire-service-training-institute

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Fire Services Training Institute