Monroe County Fire Department offers free classes to support firefighters
The classes last for eight weeks, with two evening classes each week. Applicants can learn skills such as handling equipment, fireground communications and life saving techniques.
FORSYTH, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – If you’ve ever wanted to learn what it takes to become a firefighter, the Monroe County Fire Department can help get you started on the path to volunteering.
With volunteer firefighter numbers dwindling, the department is offering free classes to residents of the county to provide firefighters with much needed support.
According to Life Safety Educator for the Department, Captain Christina Bramlett, there are many labor intensive needs outside of going into a structure fire.
“Throwing ladders, getting the ladders off the truck, bringing tools to the hot zone area like in the hot zone, being able to deploy hoses, rolling up hoses,” Bramlett said.
The classes last for eight weeks with two evening classes each week.
If selected, applicants can learn skills such as handling equipment, fireground communications and life saving techniques.
“Even though they’re not actual firefighting, they’re going to learn to understand fire dynamics in a structure that they’re going to be operating with the people engaged in those types of things,” Bramlett explained.
Once the course is complete, volunteers will be assigned to a station close to their residence and provide aid to firefighters as they are able.
Bramlett says the skills volunteers learn will give them a unique advantage to assess a fire before career firefighters arrive on scene.
It’s an advantage she says can save lives.
“So those two different levels of skilled responses are going to work together so that not any one group is going to be tasked with everything,” she said.
Applicants who complete the classes will also be eligible for additional training for structure fires that can help them become certified firefighters.
Classes begin February 12. The deadline to register is February 1.
You must be a resident of Monroe County over the age of 18 to apply. You can apply for the classes by clicking here.
