ROCK SPRINGS – Not only do local firefighters in any department pride themselves on how fast they can get to the scene safely but also in putting the best trained firefighters on the scene. After finishing the recruitment process, Sweetwater County Fire District No. 1 has started its training academy.

Training kicked off last week at the District No. 1 station. Eight new recruits and one member of the Superior Fire Department are going through the classes. District No. 1 Assistant Fire Chief Scott Kitchner explained they have members of other fire departments go through the training. Every year, District 1 reaches out to these other departments and invites them to participate.

Kitchner added that, at any time, active members of other departments can jump into their academy to get training or just polish up on skills. He added it was not only for other agencies but also industrial rescue crews at the mines.

The new recruits are made up of four men and four women. Kitchner said the youngest is right at 20-years-old while the oldest is in the mid twenties. He also said gender does not matter, but it was nice to see four women come out. District No. 1 currently has two women on its volunteer squad. One of the new female recruits is a current fireman’s daughter.
Each applicant goes through a driving background check to make sure there are no driving under the influences or major driving violations. They also go through a criminal background check to make sure there are no major felonies or drug charges. Then, finally, the references they list on their application are called.

This is the fifth year the district has had the academy. This year’s academy started on Jan. 6 and will run to June 25. By the time they finish, the trainees will receive their Firefighter I certification. They will also be certified in Hazmat awareness and operation, receive their red card in wildland fire as well as receive first aid, CPR and incident command training.
For Sweetwater County Fire District No. 1, it all starts with training.

“There are volunteer organizations who hand new volunteers their equipment and say here you go,” Kitchner said. “We don’t think that’s right. It’s not right for their safety; it’s not right for our safety and we had to do something different.”

Some departments send recruits to training facilities that cost money. Kitchner said it was a big deal to be able to do that here and to have the personnel and facility to do it. Not only does it save money, but it also allows new recruits to build rapport with the other members of the district. Ktichner said after they pass the academy then finally get on that first call, the district members know the new member’s strengths and weaknesses.

Kitchner explained the academy provides a “blended” training course which includes classroom work, online quizzes and tests which are provided by the State Fire Marshal’s Office.
The recruits not only have classroom work but do five weekends of hands on training. They use both the Rock Springs Fire Department burn building and tower.

At the end of the training there is a written exam and a practical skill exam. This is where another partnership comes into play. Kitchner explained they have an agreement with Jackson. District No. 1 will go there, and Jackson will come here to provide the final test. “They hold the final test pretty close. I don’t even know what’s on it,” he said, “It lends more credibility to it.”

Although the district does a big recruiting push during November and December, residents who are interested in going through this experience, learning a new craft and protecting neighbors, can put in an application at the station anytime. Kitchner explains as they prepare for an upcoming academy; they will call applicants to make sure they are still interested in participating.