WV State Fire Academy

Monday I had the opportunity to volunteer at the state fire academy at Jackson's Mill. I attended the afternoon session with Buckhannon's fire chief Mitch Tacy and our main function was to refill the student's breathing air bottles at the conclusion of student activities. Before the afternoon session, we were treated to lunch at the Jackson's Mill dining hall and we shared the hall not only with the 100+ fire academy students and instructors, but an equal number of 4 H'rs. It was a walk down memory lane of the various youth camps I attended growing up in upstate New York. The Jackson's Mill dining hall was renovated several years ago and it is a beautiful facility.

The 2010 fire academy roster has 90 students and about half are out of state students. There is also a strong representation of young female fire fighters. The students on Monday afternoon had a rigorous schedule and completed rotations in knot tying, the proper use of hand held fire extinguishers with live fire, hazmat class A (spaceman) suits, hose advancement, interior rescue and rural water movement. The instructors kept the classes moving and I'm quite sure all students slept well Monday night.

The quality of training the students receive is excellent and the program is designed to familiarize students with with a smorgasbord of activities and experiences one would find in today's fire service. Both Mitch and I commented that students completing the academy curriculum have in many cases, more training than some of the old timers in today's fire service. As an observer, I also learned some new techniques for hose handling as well as being reminded of how much I had once known but had forgotten over time.

Finding and developing volunteers for local departments is challenging. Starting young and planting the seeds of volunteerism early is an excellent method. The sad thing is finding and encouraging youth volunteerism especially in the fire service. The Upshur County Fire Fighters Association offer scholarships for any youth interested in attending this years academy. Out of 8 county departments, only one youth expressed interest in attending but was unable to attend. Hopefully participation will increase in the years to come.