Some 100 congressional aides take part in training programs
More than 52 congressional aides donned full turnout gear and self-contained breathing apparatus, charged hoselines, participated in a live burn, and made their way through a smoke maze at the Maryland Fire and Rescue Institute in College Park, Maryland, last November. The events were part of the annual Congressional Basic Firefighter Training and Ride-Along cohosted by the Congressional Fire Services Institute and the Maryland Fire and Rescue Institute. Prince George`s County (MD) Fire Department, the Baltimore County (MD) Fire Department, and the Maryland State Police provided additional support.
Another group of aides rode with rescue squads, engines, battalion chiefs, and EMS units in the Ride-Along program, which took place two nights later. More than 30 stations hosted the aides. Fire departments participating in the Ride-Along program were the District of Columbia Fire and EMS Department, Montgomery County (MD) Fire and Rescue Services, Prince George`s County Fire Department, Arlington County (VA) Fire Department, and Fairfax County (VA) Fire and Rescue Department.
