Published: October 07, 2009 09:13 pm      

Area firefighters get extensive training in battling fires

Local volunteer firefighters don’t rush into a fire not knowing what to do.

Even though they are volunteers they receive extensive training in learning how to fight fires in different situations.

Several county volunteer firefighters participated in the Texas A&M Fire School back in the summer, according to Bobby Cernoch, a member of the Elkhart Volunteer Fire Department and also an instructor at the fire school.

“We (volunteer firefighters) get this training to help serve our community,” Cernoch said of the effort put in by the volunteers. “They go to school to learn the latest firefighting techniques and to get training in different areas.

“It’s important for the public to know (these firefighters) are out there trying to get more training to get better.”

This year, 15 volunteer firefighters from Elkhart, Southside, Tucker and Tennessee volunteer fire departments sent firefighters to the weeklong school in College Station.

The volunteers learned about different types of firefighting, pump operations and many varying aspects of dealing with fires.

“Most of the tuition is paid for by grants,” Cernoch said. “They have to pay for room and board while they are there, and that’s a big part of our fund-raisers — to help pay for the training.”

While the training exercises are in a controlled environment, Cernoch said as with any fire, they are putting them in a dangerous situation, but it is training firefighters need to help better serve the public.

“We have a wonderful opportunity here because one of the best firefighting schools in the world is just a 100 miles away (in College Station),” Cernoch said. “We do the training and they (Texas A&M) provide the facilities.”

For those who want to be a part of any volunteer fire department in the county, Cernoch said they will be welcomed. Usually, after about a year when the new firefighter shows dedication to serving as a firefighter, then they will usually start the intense training found at the school.