Fire season is once again upon us and the Texas Forrest Service expects 2012 to be another intense wildfire season. Local fire departments hope to be better prepared this year.
Both the Brownwood and Coleman Fire Departments have spent all week in a classroom with the Texas Forrest Service learning how to fight wild land fires.
Friday, we tagged along as they put the lectures to work with hands-on education at Camp Bowie in Brownwood.
After nearly a full week in a classroom, they got to see fire.
The class, titled S-130 S-190 took 27 firefighters from Brownwood and Coleman, teaching them proper methods and techniques to fighting an actual wild-land fire.
"It gives them a hands on application to where they can take that knowledge and maintain it," said Texas Forrest Service, Regional Fire Coordinator, Brad Britten.
Some of the fire fighters had never used the equipment in a wild-land fire and this course gave them a chance to see how they would utilized the tools in a real fire.
Coleman Asst. Chief, Darrell Walker joined his men there and said, "When you get out on a hands on operation it lets everyone know what we need to be doing."
They had to accomplish the course so they could be eligible to deploy throughout the state as mutual aid. Both Coleman and Brownwood Fire Departments sent aid to wildfires around the state last year, including Bastrop, one of the worst.
It's just one more class to keep the departments prepared.
"We're always constantly training and trying to improve our skills and be ready to go when we meet a disaster," said Brownwood Fire Chief, Del Albright.
In a class like this, multiple departments working together keeps everyone on the same page.
Britten explained, "It's just very important to train together so we can work together more efficiently."
"They get to know how we operate," Chief Walker added. "We get to know how they operate and it makes for a better outcome when we're needed in a real situation."
So come time for the first major wild-fire of the year, Coleman and Brownwood will have a leg up on the flames.
"We know the fire season coming up is gonna be significant so they'll be better prepared," said Britten.
When the next time comes, and they say it will, they'll be prepared.
The fire departments do this kind of training all year long learning new techniques on both structure and wild-land fires. In fact they'll be back to Camp Bowie for more training in February.
Both the Brownwood and Coleman Fire Departments have spent all week in a classroom with the Texas Forrest Service learning how to fight wild land fires.
Friday, we tagged along as they put the lectures to work with hands-on education at Camp Bowie in Brownwood.
After nearly a full week in a classroom, they got to see fire.
The class, titled S-130 S-190 took 27 firefighters from Brownwood and Coleman, teaching them proper methods and techniques to fighting an actual wild-land fire.
"It gives them a hands on application to where they can take that knowledge and maintain it," said Texas Forrest Service, Regional Fire Coordinator, Brad Britten.
Some of the fire fighters had never used the equipment in a wild-land fire and this course gave them a chance to see how they would utilized the tools in a real fire.
Coleman Asst. Chief, Darrell Walker joined his men there and said, "When you get out on a hands on operation it lets everyone know what we need to be doing."
They had to accomplish the course so they could be eligible to deploy throughout the state as mutual aid. Both Coleman and Brownwood Fire Departments sent aid to wildfires around the state last year, including Bastrop, one of the worst.
It's just one more class to keep the departments prepared.
"We're always constantly training and trying to improve our skills and be ready to go when we meet a disaster," said Brownwood Fire Chief, Del Albright.
In a class like this, multiple departments working together keeps everyone on the same page.
Britten explained, "It's just very important to train together so we can work together more efficiently."
"They get to know how we operate," Chief Walker added. "We get to know how they operate and it makes for a better outcome when we're needed in a real situation."
So come time for the first major wild-fire of the year, Coleman and Brownwood will have a leg up on the flames.
"We know the fire season coming up is gonna be significant so they'll be better prepared," said Britten.
When the next time comes, and they say it will, they'll be prepared.
The fire departments do this kind of training all year long learning new techniques on both structure and wild-land fires. In fact they'll be back to Camp Bowie for more training in February.
Comments
anonymous a...you will understand when your house, property or land is on fire...sheesh...trust me A LOT care about VFD's
lady_texan_vfd l.
January 28, 2012 at 12:33 pm
WHATS WITH ALL OF THE FIRE DEPT. STORIES, WHO EVEN CARES
Anonymous A.
January 28, 2012 at 10:41 am
