GHENT -
It has been 4 months since the Fire Levy passed in Raleigh County. 59 News is working for you tonight and we wanted to know how some of that money was being put to use.
This many appear to be a REAL emergency, but this is just a training course for emergency service responders representing 5 different fire departments from 3 different counties.
Without the Fire Levy that passed this May, organizers said funding a class like this would have been impossible.
"The levy allows me to cover the fuel and the class cost and stuff like that and it allows me to do more," Jim Belcher, Ghent VFD Fire Chief said.
Though Ghent Fire Chief Jim Belcher says the funding from the levy is slowly trickling in, this is THE first of more training to come.
Mock drills put firefighters face to face with real life disasters. For Mabscott firefighter Carl Allen, it is all about discovering new ways to solve problems.
"It makes you rethink some of the things you think are routine on a call. It will have you slow down and take a look at the scene and take a look at the situation to have the appropriate outcome," Carl Allen, Mabscott Fire Department said.
Finding new solutions is not the only goal of continual training, firefighters say one of the challenges in their field, is dealing with change.
"Every time they change the way a car is made, we have to change the way we cut some one out of it," Mike Vandall, RESA Instructor said.
Vandall said training sessions are instrumental in making sure emergency service responders are ready to tackle any emergency in a timely manner keeping you and the roadways safe. And as more of the levy money is distributed fire fighters hope to continue their education.
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