Firemen train to serve community
Wanda English Burnett - Editor

Signing on to become a volunteer firefighter is more work than you might think. To become a firefighter in the state of Indiana, there are certain state mandates that must be in place - a written test and practical applications that must be passed.

Eighteen men wanting to become firefighters from seven different fire departments - Batesville, Friendship, New Point, Delaware, Napoleon, Versailles, and Milan - came together on Saturday, August 27, at the Versailles training facility.

Instructors for the event were Mike Sieverding, firefighter for the City of Columbus; Dwight Bauman, Versailles Fire Department; Scott Huffman, Milan Fire Department; Todd Schutte, Jim Niesly, Rich Salatin, and Steve Nobbe, of the Batesville Fire Department.

Huffman explained that this was the first training of its kind in the county and predicts that there will be plenty more in the future. "It was good for the various departments to work together," he commented, saying many times in "real life situations" they assist each other.

The firemen could be found climbing a ladder to a second story in the fire training tower while smoke was billowing out. They crawled through the window and were in total darkness as they tried to locate "Rescue Randy" a 180 pound dummy. The first group found "Randy" and then had to carry him down two flights of stairs to an outside door and to safety. The men were able to experience how heavy a person of that weight would really be when you're carrying them down stairs.

The day was humid with temperatures nearly 90 degrees to begin with, then couple the heat with the heavy apparatus the firemen were carrying and personal protective gear the men were wearing, the men experienced first hand just how hot it can be when fighting fires.

They practiced how to break in through a door and window (forceable entry); ventilation, fire behavior, SCBA - self contained breathing apparatus, how to load hoses, how to shoot streams of water to minimize property damage, personal safety, SIDS, blood borne pathogens and much more.

As the scenarios were layed out for the firemen, they took turns being the person in charge and were able to see what it's really like. They practiced accountability to each person in their particular group and had to make sure all of their men were together. They reported back to the person in charge just as if it was really happening.

They were also treated to PHI Helicopter Service of Columbus, who brought in a unit and actually let the men practice loading it. A "hot load" means the helicopter just rests momentarily and isn't even turned off. You have to be careful because the roters are still in motion. A "cold load" means the helicopter will come to a complete shut down.

While the helicopter part of the training is not mandatory, Huffman noted that this is part of the firemen's job and it was great practice for them. They also stand ready with water hoses when there is an accident that requires a helicopter transport. They set up the landing zone and help guide the aircraft to the place it needs to land.

Huffman said the day was successful and was pleased with the efforts of the firemen to serve the community. "They were really excited and will be a dedicated group of firemen," he concluded.

WANDA ENGLISH BURNETT PHOTO

Firemen representing seven area departments, were training at the Training Tower near Versailles, on Saturday, August 27. There were 18 who participated in the day's events that included going up this ladder to a second story window where they entered a dark, smoke-filled room.