The Round Table
Departments
Training is, or should be, an integral part of a fire department operation. Understandably, training is more difficult to accomplish in a volunteer department, as opposed to a paid, because of the limited time available to a volunteer who has a regular job.
With this in mind, what regular training schedule have you established? Does it include basic training for new members? And, are the training classes well attended?
David E. Bentley, Chief, Cedar City, Utah: Our department trains two nights each month. Summer drills consist of ladder drills, high-rise, hose tests, hydrant flushing, drafting and driving of apparatus. Winter drills include: building size-up, first aid, breathing apparatus and films.
Each fireman spends at least three nights every two months at our station on night duty. Fire Engineering magazine is at the side of each bed. I appreciate the excellent information and articles and feel that firemen who read this magazine are better informed.
Cedar City has three paid firemen, and three volunteer battalion chiefs as well as a volunteer assistant chief. The training is decided at an officers’ meeting at the first of each month. It is the responsibility of the first battalion chief to oversee all training.
All new firemen train at all sessions, and come in the station to receive special panel and truck training whenever they have time. No new man can drive until he has been checked by the battalion chief.
Robert L. Taylor, Chief, Worland, Wyo.: The Worland Volunteer Fire Department is an all-volunteer department manned by 27 fire fighters. We are responsible for a city of about 7500 persons and a large rural area which makes some of our runs as much as 20 miles.
We have two regular meetings a month with the second meeting designated as a training meeting. We also have a trainingwork meeting every Tuesday, which is a mandatory meeting for all new members who have not served at least six months on the department. At these meetings they are given the basic fire fighting principles along with pre-fire planning. For all other members this is a voluntary meeting.
We have about 60 percent turnout for the Tuesday meetings and a 90 percent attendance at our regular meetings. At the present time, all of the members have served at least two years, so I feel the classes are well attended.
M. Joseph Wood, Jr., Chief, Gray, Ga.: Our department consists of 22 volunteer firemen and two class A pumpers. We protect approximately 850 residents and 40 commercial buildings ranging up to 70,000 square feet.
We are very fortunate in being only 15 miles from Macon, Ga., which has a very good training department for their 300 firemen.
Taking the above facts, our department’s training is broken down into three main areas. First, all new firemen take the Georgia Fire Academy’s basic 101, 60-hour fire fighting course. Second, all firemen who have completed the basic course study the more advanced aspects of fire fighting in addition to perfecting the basics. These two areas are taught and supervised by Lt. Joe Collins of the Macon Fire Department Training Division on his off-duty time. Third, firemen in our department attend the Georgia Fire Academy weekend schools held throughout the state.
We hold drills twice a month for approximately 3V2 hours in addition to special drills as they are needed. We run approximately 80 percent attendance at all scheduled drills.
By having a well trained and supervised training schedule that all adhere to, our department performs as an organized, efficient unit with very few morale or attendance problems.
Ray Cummings, Chief, Corner Volunteer Fire Department, Corner, Ala.: Our department meets regularly for drills and training on the first and third Thursdays of every month. We also take advantage of the training courses sponsored by the Alabama State Fire College and the State Forestry Commission.
All new members are trained in pump operation and basic fire fighting principles. However, we have no standard requirement for man-hours spent in basic training.
In a rural, all-volunteer fire department such as ours, experience is a must. Fortunately, we have two professional fire fighters with a total of 40 years experience in the fire service as drill and training officers.
We have an an average class attendance of about 85 percent of our 30-man roster.
