Week 18: Day 1

We have officially begun Fire 2 training.

Fire 1 training was about 6 weeks...from here you get the fundamental groundwork. Fire 2 training is 1 1/2 weeks long....throwing a TON of information at you at once and you are expected to understand and be able to perform it immediately. Fire 2 is also where you find bigger hoses, more water, and larger ladders.

We spent the day on the pad going through skill stations and learning new skills. We threw ladders, this time raising them differently: by ourselves with no building to raise it against, lifting them by the beam (from the side), and also lifting a 35' ladder. We then learned how to take conscious and unconscious victims down the ladder. After that, we spent some time becoming friendly with the 2 1/2" hoseline. The 2 1/2" hoseline is a LOT of water, and a LOT of weight used to put out a LOT of fire....it is primarily used outside of a hose for defensive operations, but we must still be able to show we can bring it inside if needed. We advanced it into the burn building on the first floor.

The Assistant Chief of the Fire Dept was at the Academy today teaching lecture to the other battalion. He is apparently a very nice guy and very popular. Unfortunately for us, one recruit started to dose off during his lecture and was caught.....we haven't found out what exactly is going to happen...but I am sure it is something bad