Sunday March, 26 2023

Nature: Indian River's New Recruits Finish Basic Firefighter Skills

Location: Delaware State Fire School

On Sunday March 26^th, five new recruits from the Indian River Volunteer Fire Company finished their Basic Firefighter Skills at the Delaware State Fire School (DSFS) in Dover. 

The Basic Firefighting Skills Curriculum was a six (6) day, 36 hour course on Saturdays and Sundays during the month of March.  The Basic Firefighting Skills Course has been designed to provide the necessary skills and knowledge that a new firefighter may utilize on an emergency scene. This course is the initial step of the Sequential Training Program of the Delaware State Fire School.  Basic Firefighting Skills will a prerequisite for all other fire-training courses provided by the fire school.

The course will prepare and teach the student basic skills and knowledge in Orientation, Protective Equipment, Fire Behavior, Contaminated Atmospheres, Fire Service Organizations, Firefighter Safety, Basic Ropes and Knots, Fire Extinguisher usage, Salvage Cover Applications, Ground Ladders, Self- Contained Breathing Apparatus (SCBA), Forcible Entry Equipment, Emergency Scene Power Equipment, Hose Adaption, Appliances and Evolutions will be discussed in this course.  As well as Hazardous Materials Awareness, physical fitness, and driving personal vehicles to the station will be included in this course.

The new Indian River recruits will be required to continue their firefighter skills and training to included structural firefighting (24 hours), hazardous materials (24 hours), vehicle rescue (24 hours) and emergency medical response (40 hours) components before transitioning into any specialized training curriculum.

The five new probationary recruits represent two junior members (14-18 years of age) and three active members that respond for emergency incidents within the Indian River fire district and have been participating with internal service trainings and drills prior to fulfilling their respective DSFS coursework.

These volunteer firefighters are:

• Junior Member Recruits:

  • Ala Crossan – a new probationary Junior firefighter recruit will respond out of the Oak Orchard facility,

  • James “Jimmy” McLane, III – a new probationary Junior firefighter recruit will respond out of the Oak Orchard facility,

• Active Member Recruits:

  • Chris Kinsler, Jr. – a new probationary Active firefighter recruit will respond out of the Long Neck facility,

  • Guy Gosselin – a new probationary Active firefighter recruit will respond out of the Long Neck facility, and

  • Erin Longo – a new probationary Active firefighter recruit will respond out of the Long Neck facility.

The Indian River Volunteer Fire Company would like to acknowledge these new recruits for their diligence and dedication and thank them for their volunteerism.

Additional information regarding fire service Recruitment & Retention Initiatives can be reviewed via the following websites:

• ANSWERING THE CALL: PART 1 - Fire crew more active, fewer members - Local departments struggling to find balance - https://irvfc.com/gallery/detail/47277

• ANSWERING THE CALL: PART 2 - Cape Region fire departments seek members - As population increases, demand rises for volunteers - https://irvfc.com/gallery/detail/47332?ss=1

• Finding Firefighters – Volunteer shortages hitting state’s departments hard - Delaware fire departments grappling with volunteer shortages - http://irvfc.com/gallery/detail/47658

• Recruitment & Retention Initiatives at Indian River - https://irvfc.com/gallery/detail/44353?ss=1