Firefighters from Glade, M & M and Powers volunteer fire departments conducted a structural firefighting training exercise on Friday evening. Firefighter students in Instructor Dan McKenna’s ongoing Firefighter 1 class were able to get hands-on, real-life training on battling structure fires.
A resident requested that a home near 23 Lewis Griffin Road be burned, allowing firefighters and the seven Firefighter 1 students to practice critical skills used when battling a structure fire.
The student firefighters have devoted just under 100 hours to classroom and skills training since mid-April. Each student passed the required written test and will travel to the Mississippi State Fire Academy in September to demonstrate skills learned and practiced during their class.
The Firefighter 1 class covers many subject matters, including interior and exterior structural firefighting, wildland firefighting, auto extrication, and handling and working around hazardous materials, among many other subjects. Students also learn how fires behave in different circumstances and how to “read” smoke to determine what type of fire is burning, fire location and fire intensity.
“Jones County volunteer fire departments are always looking for kindhearted folks looking to give back to the community and truly help others going through their worst moments,” said Dana Bumgardner, spokeswoman for the Jones County Fire Council. “The class is free. You will make great friends, help your community, and, who knows, maybe just save a life.”
For more information on how to become certified as a volunteer firefighter, contact a member of a local VFD or email piojonesfire@gmail.com.