| Over the past month our firefighters have spent several hours at County training classes including Firefighter 1, Firefighter 2 and Pumper Driver/Operator. Between the 3 classes we have a total of 6 firefighters training in the different areas.
In late February Firefighters Brad Rust, Ben Allgyer, Levi Allgyer and Jonas Allgyer all began Module 1 for Essentials of Firefighting in Berks County. These firefighters had to travel to Berks County to take this course due to three of them being Amish and Berks County offering this class with no Sunday sessions. Module 1 was a two day class that spanned over two Saturdays.
Module 1 is an entry level course that's designed to introduce new firefighters to basic information including an overview of the fire service, fire service organization, firefighter safety, personal protective equipment and terrorism awareness. This is the first of four courses in the curriculum. Following Module 1, all of them will be continuing on to Module 2 which begins on March 12th.
In addition Firefighter Eric Messner has begun Pumper Driver/Operator in Chester County. This program encompasses all prerequisites to meet the requirements of Pennsylvania State and National Certification for Pumper Driver/Operator. Subjects include emergency vehicle operations, maintenance and inspection procedures, fire service hydraulics, placement of pumping apparatus at fire scenes and instruction in the basic methods of water movement in rural areas.
Furthermore Battalion Chief Erik Brecht was participating in a Firefighter 2 skills enhancement in Montgomery County. This course will help prepare students to participate successfully in the Firefighter II Certification and to perform more effectively as a firefighter on the fire grounds. It will refresh and reinforce the more advanced knowledge and skills of a firefighter such as sprinkler systems, building construction, combustible gas and combustible liquid fire control and pre-fire planning.
All Firefighters are doing this on their taking time away from their families and jobs because we are all volunteer and receive no payment for training or answering emergency calls. |
