Eight DeKalb County Fire Department (DCFD) recruits have completed the 16-hour Firefighter Live Burn Training Course at the Tennessee Fire and Codes Enforcement Training Academy in Bellbuckle, Tennessee.
These recruits are Cody Wagner (Keltonburg Station), Brayde Baker (Belk Station), Jade Cade (Keltonburg Station), Chris Mulford (Short Mtn. Station), Mark Johnson (Short Mtn. Station), Brittany Lattimore (Short Mtn. Station), Jody Lattimore (Short Mtn. Station), and Matt Adcock (Belk Station).
Assistant Chief and Training Officer David Agee says the department is extremely proud of this group of firefighters who committed themselves to further their education in the fire service by completing this physically demanding course that teaches firefighter recruits how to apply the skills they learned in their previously completed 64-hour Basic Firefighter Training Course. "Live Burn Training gives recruits practical and hands-on experiences with evolutions as required in NFPA 1403. Specifically, firefighters are required to participate and successfully complete a variety of practical training drills and scenarios including search and rescue, structural fire attack and exterior fires," says Assistant Chief Agee.
DeKalb County Fire Chief Donny Green commended the department’s new recruits and Assistant Chief Agee for making DeKalb County Volunteer Fire Department’s training program responsive to the training needs of new recruits. "It is amazing to see the level of commitment that we are getting from our volunteer firefighters who work hard and train hard to make sure our citizens have good fire protection here in DeKalb County. This is a testament to why DeKalb County Fire Department is recognized across the state and country as being one of the top ranking training departments. Without training, even the best equipment is useless. We emphasize to our members that being a professional firefighter has nothing to do with your status as ‘career’ or ‘volunteer’, it's entirely defined by how you perform." says Chief Green.
If you are interested in learning more about the DeKalb County Volunteer Fire Department, or would like information on how to be on our team and become a volunteer firefighter, you can visit the Department’s website at: www.dekalbfire.com, or call 615-464-7176. You can also visit the Department’s FaceBook group page.
