Central County Fire & Rescue in St. Peters, Missouri held its very first Citizen’s Fire Academy. The department invited a group of St. Peters residents to learn more about the operations and functions of the fire service. It was a seven week course that aimed toward building bridges of understanding and cooperation between citizens and the fire department.

 

Some of the training our citizen firefighters received was the history of the fire service, safely fighting small fires using fire extinguishers, operation of real fire hoses and automobile extrication.

 

At the end of the course, week seven's training allowed the students to act as real firefighters. They entered a training building to search and locate a small fire and extinguish it while a young victim was rescued and resuscitated (simulated) in this exercise as well. Once a student has completed the course with all requirements met, they are given an opportunity to ride along on a fire truck to observe Central County firefighters as they perform their duties.

 

 

I watched on their graduation day as my husband and the other students used the training they received to fight a fire. Their interaction with the professional firefighters was of great respect and a new found friendship. The students say they now have an entirely new perspective since taking this rewarding course.

 

The American Red Cross provides canteen service upon request for our firefighters. I’ve been on the scene while they worked tirelessly to contain fires and I am grateful for their service and their selflessness. The more we understand what these dedicated rescuers go through, the better we, the American Red Cross, can serve them.

 

I’m definitely going to apply for the next class!