Firefighters from across the state have spent eight hours per day this week taking on the challenges offered by the Lamar County Fire Training Center.
For example: Ascending and descending a challenge at the centerโs Rope Rescue Awareness and Operations course.
โThis is the building block for the firefighters and the police officers that are attending this course for their career in the rescue field,โ said Michael DiMartino, Mississippi State Fire Academy Special Operations Group senior instructor.
โSo, typically, firefighters, emergency personnel, police officers, they will take Rope A and O. They will take hazardous materials technician, and then they can move on to more specialized courses.โ
DiMartino said some of the specialized courses are precursors, preparing firefighters for rescues in tight spaces or more daunting positions, like water towers and trenches.
But first, its all in the knots. โTheyโll learn how to lift heavy things with systems called mechanical advantages,โ DiMartino said, โand then theyโll learn how to do a basic rappel.
โTheyโll learn how to descend a rope, change over, and then actually climb back up the rope, which we call ascending. And then they learn pick-off.โ
DiMartino said extinguishing blazes is not the full extent of a firefighterโs job. Their training has to meet the expectations of the communities they serve.
โWhen somebody calls 911, they want a firefighter, police officer, (emergency medical technician), paramedic to come and make their worst day better,โ DiMartino said. โSo, for firefighters, itโs essential that theyโre able to mitigate any type of rescue.โ
The course and center these first responders have called their classroom all week is made possible by local investments in public safety. โWeโre excited about having them here in Lamar County at our training facility, which has continued to be a good investment for the county in providing training throughout the state, but also our firefighters and our (emergency management agency) and law enforcement personnel as well,โ said Kyle Hill, Lamar County fire coordinator.
The course will wrap up on Friday. Firefighters from Biloxi, Petal, Hattiesburg, Picayune, Gulfport, Wiggins and Jackson County all took part this week.
Lamar County firefighters, Lamar County Sheriffโs Office deputies and EMA personnel also participated.
