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Several participants in a firefighter boot camp conducted by the Connellsville Area Career & Technical Center prepare to enter a simulated structure fire at New Haven Hose Company’s training facility on Seventh Street. New Haven assisted with the boot camp. (Roxanne Abramowitz | The Daily Courier)
Several participants in a firefighter boot camp conducted by the Connellsville Area Career & Technical Center prepare to enter a simulated structure fire at New Haven Hose Company’s training facility on Seventh Street. New Haven assisted with the boot camp. (Roxanne Abramowitz | The Daily Courier)
Elliott Loughman is the son of firefighters. His mother, Melissa and father, Rick, serve with Dawson Volunteer Fire Department in Fayette County.
“It runs in the family’s blood,” said Elliott, 14, who plans to follow in their footsteps.
Elliott was one of 22 students who participated last week in a firefighting boot camp conducted by the Connellsville Area Career & Technical Center, with help from New Haven Hose Company.
Ron Barry, CACTC protection services instructor, led hopeful future firefighters through a week of learning activities at the school, with the last day conducted at New Haven Hose Company’s training facility on Seventh Street.
“New Haven has been a phenomenal partner through all of this,” Barry said.
The participants, ages 14 to 18, came from Connellsville Area schools, as well as a few from other districts, said Barry, who serves as Brownsville fire chief.
A Community Foundation of Fayette County grant provided money for boot camp.
From 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. participants experienced a firefighter’s world.
Barry said the boot camp was an introductory course to fire service.
On the first day, participants received an overview of fire service and fire ground safety. They learned how to don protective clothing and breathing apparatuses.
Day 2 involved engine company function.
“That’s when they learned how to pack hose, roll hose, connect to a fire hydrant and safely operate a charged hose line,” Barry said.
Truck company operation highlighted the third day. The student firefighters learned how to force their way into a structure, search for victims and deal with ground wires.
Vehicle rescue filled Day 4. Barry said the students saw how firefighters gain access to patients in crashed vehicles using hand, hydraulic and electric rescue tools.
The gauntlet came on the final day, Barry said.
“This is tying it all together,” Barry said. “It is the day they get to fight a simulated fire in an actual house.”
The young firefighters gathered outside and around the training house next to New Haven’s station, and waited as the smoke — created by a digital fire simulator — rose to the top floor.
The smoke is harmless, Barry assured, noting it’s the same as smoke used in special effects.
“They get to crawl around in safe-but-realistic conditions and fight an imaginary fire,” Barry said.
Students dressed in heavy bunker gear, with masks and breathing apparatuses, and were armed with firefighting tools.
Barry, along with New Haven Lt. Bill Addis and Firefighter Bill Beatty, carefully watched as each participant prepared – showing them the proper way to fit air tanks and check their oxygen.
A rehab tent was set up where emergency medical services students and emergency medical technician Dalaina Kenny, checked blood pressures and heart rates.
Kenny is a CACTC protective service discipline graduate and attends Waynesburg University.
Barry said much of the training equipment employed at the house is the same as that used at the CACTC.
He expressed hope boot camp will encourage younger adults to become involved in the fire service and possibly join their local departments.
Some of the participants were junior firefighters.
The five-day program was interactive.
“We have had a lot of hands-on training,” Barry said. “They were outside learning new things. Overall, they have done extremely well.”
Addis commended the students and the purpose of the boot camp.
“It gets interest up,” he said, adding the simulated structure fire provided opportunities for future EMTs to be involved.
Addis and Beatty worked with the students throughout the week.
“They worked their butts off,” Addis said of the students.
During the simulated structure fire, students were broken into three teams — rapid intervention, ladder and engine, Barry said.
The students rotated through each team so each crew could experience all aspects.
“They’ve been waiting for this all week,” Barry said, as the students anxiously awaited entry to the training facility.
Barry hopes to continue boot camp programs in the future. The event last week was the first directed to firefighting. A few years ago, he conducted a three-day first-responder camp.
A firefighter camp had been planned in 2020 but COVID-19 halted those plans.
As the students waited to fight their first “fire,” they gathered around Barry asking questions.
Barry said some participants – like Elliott — are children of firefighters.
Wyatt Addis is Bill Addis’ son.
“He’s having a great time,” Barry said. Wyatt said he plans to be a firefighter.
Morgan Colbert, son of Dawson fire Chief Billy Colbert, also sees a future in firefighting.
There’s firefighters on both his mom’s and dad’s side of the families for several generations, Morgan said.
Barry sees participation increasing in future camps. This year’s students have already asked him about next year’s plans.
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