Flare for the dramatic
04/07/2006
By Leslie X
Staff Writer
leslie
[email protected]ANYTOWN - Flames spewed in all directions from a propane gas tank while firefighter recruits inched their way toward the gas fire until reaching for the nozzle and twisting it off.
The fire died immediately and the crowd of about 100 people erupted in applause. This was just one of the many demonstrations fire recruits performed for their instructors, friends and family Thursday evening at the ANYTOWN County Fire Training Academy.
This year 16 recruits are learning what it takes to become a ANYTOWN County firefighter. The classes are 16 weeks long and run Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Many of the fire recruits have been firefighters in other departments but are required to take the ANYTOWN training program, which has been noted as one of the best in the state by other fire professionals.
"I've been in METRO AREA for a year and I decided after researching to come here to ANYTOWN because other firefighters told me that this was a notable fire department," said Ms. Wannabe, this class' only female fire recruit who moved from Ohio to take advantage of opportunities in the area.
For 15 years, Ms. Wannabe was a practicing emergency medical technician in Ohio but wanted to be a firefighter.
She said she tried a couple times in Cleveland but she was turned down each time.
''I always failed the physical agility part," she said. "They had you take a 30-foot ladder, lift it and tap the loft of the ladder on a window, but I could never lift it." Ms. Wannabe said it was only until she came to ANYTOWN County's Fire Department that she realized a firefighter would never even have to do something like that in a real fire situation.
"I think they did that to exclude the smaller men and women," she said. "But I didn't know that until I came here." Ms. Wannabe and the other recruits have learned how to accomplish what is required of them during a fire but most importantly how to maintain their safety while doing it.
"Safety is one of the most important things they teach you - to look out of your fellow firefighters and citizens and it takes a lot of people doing that," said fire recruit Willie Makit while taking a break from the evening's events.
Since childhood, Willie Makit dreamed of being a fireman and after a year and a half of attempts to fight fires with ANYTOWN County, Willie Makit finally made the cut. He gave up a successful landscaping business to do it but said he couldn't be happier.
"They've done a great job and came in well prepared," said ANYTOWN County firefighter Lt. Paul Iticallycorrect.
"Each year we have a higher standard and we get a good crop." The fire recruits will complete their training in four weeks, graduate and then become full-fledged firefighters.
"And that's really where the learning begins," Paul Iticallycorrect said.
So what are your opinions? I've added emphasis to the comments that concern me.roy d.....not hating on the womenz....just come prepared to work.
ETA: names and location changed to protect the innocent.