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2C THE DAILY ASTORIAN • FRIDAY, JULY 15, 2016 Cadets converge for ire training First blush with a blaze By LUKE WHITTAKER EO Media Group t starts with spark of interest, and often ends with a career. In June, about 60 high school students from regional Washington state and Oregon schools gathered for the annual ire cadet day at MERTS campus in Astoria. The training was the culmination of months of class- room training. “We give the experience of the live ire train- ing, the requirements to become a volunteer ireighter. That’s really what they’re doing here is getting those components completed,” Kel- so’s Cowlitz Two Fire and Rescue Safety Ofi- cer Kirk Meller said. A number of leaders and training oficers from ire departments in southwest Washington and northwest Oregon, including James Gra- ham, Kurt Stich, Craig Martinell, Scott Johns, Kurt Donaldson, Mike Karvia and Erik Dearth, led cadets through the training. Paciic County Fire District No. 1 played a major role in the training. I Full day of ire The daylong experience covered a vari- ety of ire science and safety topics, includ- ing hose-handling, search and rescue and ight- ing ires. After an orientation led by incident instructor Graham, students divided into bat- talions. Smaller groups went through rota- tions, including the ield leadership assessment course, or “FLAC.” The course simulates situ- ations and obstacles they will encounter in the ield, and emphasizes communication skills. “FLAC simulations are basically team-build- ing exercises,” instructor Donaldson said. After lunch, the training heated up, as stu- dents practiced new skills in different live ire scenarios. “They go from leadership-type training and team cohesion to actually getting dressed up in their bunker gear and dealing with the experi- ence (of live ire),” said ireighter Dave Fisher. A rehabilitation tent, run by EMTs from Paciic County Fire District No. 1, offered a momentary reprieve to cadets between rota- tions. The EMTs closely monitored their core temperatures and vital signs during the unsea- sonably warm afternoon. Photos by Luke Whittaker/EO Media Group The live fire training was the first opportunity for the cadets to put their training into practice. Only at MERTS Traditionally a two-day training, this year’s program was condensed into one eventful day due to scheduling conlicts. Though many cadets were disappointed to have less time at MERTS, cadets and instructors alike agreed that the experience at the occupational train- ing campus was still totally unique, and totally worthwhile. “You can’t teach a kid by sitting in a class- room all day. You’ve got to have that hands-on application,” Meller said, standing in the shadow of the 8,000 square foot Fire Response and Research Center. The three-story structure, built exclusively for ire training, hosts a wide range of computer-controlled live burn props fueled by natural gas. “They’ve got four different burn rooms that they’re working on. It’s the irst time they’ve really seen live ire. We can’t really simulate this at each training event,” said Meller, who has been working with the students since the beginning of the school year. Fireighter Josh Raichl triggered the ires, and instructors observed the cadets closely as they worked together to extinguish each blaze. The students learned about directing ire with the hose streams. “Depending on the streams that they use will determine how the ire plays out,” Meller said, ? 9-1-WHAT? THE BEST OF THE WORST CALLS TO ASTORIA 911 DISPATCH Dominic Halvorson was among the ap- proximately 60 fire cadets from Oregon and Washington state schools that took part in the training in June at the MERTS campus in Astoria. Cadets put on their gear ahead of live fire training in June at the MERTS campus in Asto- ria. The hands-on experience was the culmination of months in the classroom. they get a heap of savings for it,” Meller said. while overseeing a group of cadets in action. “That’s really what the kids are learning — the different streams and patterns and how to prop- erly put the ire out.” Even students who don’t ultimately choose a career in emergency services still beneit from the cadet programs, leaders said. “They learn not just ireighting skills, but how to be a better citizen. If they never pick up another hose, as long as they can contribute to society later on, that’s what we’re looking for. They all have community service hours that they do,” Meller said. The experience is a rewarding one for instructors as well. “It’s really a highlight for us, a chance to see the next generation of the ire service and work with them,” Donaldson explained. “Every year it gets a little better. It’s pretty neat.” College credit, important skills The cadet programs provide a sort of “head start” for kids who want to pursue a career in ire or other emergency services. “It’s a great opportunity for the kids to come out and learn to cooperate and work together as a group. For a lot of them, this is the only live ire they get a chance to do over the course of the school year, kind of their culmination,” said Donaldson. Preparing good citizens The program also prepares students to volun- teer in their own community ire departments — something that is critical in rural areas, where volunteers handle much of the ire protection and emergency response. In addition to real-world training, many par- ticipants earn college credit that helps them save on tuition later on. “If they do it two years, they get 26 college credits,” Meller explained, adding that many will apply it toward degrees at local colleges. A degree for ire science is 90 credits, according to Clatsop Community College’s major catalog. “They get almost a third of it paid by doing the program. It saves them over $5,000 in college fees, Chicken at large W e tried to ignore it as long as possible, but there is no escaping the chicken patrolling downtown near the U.S. Bank parking lot. The bird is obviously up to something. Some brave soul inally called 911: “Report of a chicken at large walking toward The Daily Astorian.” Follow reporter Kyle Spurr on his 9-1-What? Twitter watch, where a few of the sometimes head-scratching calls to area dispatch take center stage. The full feed is at www.twitter.com/9_1_WHAT. Now available in the The Daily Astorian and Chinook Observer For more information call 503-325-3211 crbizjou rn a l.com