The Columbus Division of Fire has hit a milestone with its current rescue technician class, as the trainees have reached the halfway mark of their rigorous six-week program. This announcement comes from a recent social media post by the Columbus Division of Fire detailing the progress of the 12-member class through the intensive 240-hour course.
Before being accepted, candidates underwent pretesting in skills critical to their roles, such as knot-tying, swimming, navigating confined spaces, and working comfortably at heights. Plagued by scheduling challenges due to low water levels and ongoing dam maintenance, the class, initially set for last fall, experienced delays. The first week's curriculum focused on rope rescue training from high-rise buildings, imparting crucial techniques for victim retrieval in emergency scenarios. Week two saw them mastering boat operations on lakes and rivers and learning vital water entry techniques for rescues, especially relevant given Columbus's abundant water bodies. According to veteran firefighter Mike Powell, as obtained by the Columbus Division of Fire, auto extrication skills mastered during the third week are applicable frequently in Columbus, with him noting, "Of the six-week class, extrication will be something they probably use more often than say a collapse, but all the disciplines they get over the six weeks are all very important."
Firefighter Anthony Tinnermann, an instructor in auto extrication and swift water training, expressed his admiration for the students' rapid progress. "They're doing fantastic. It's great to see. When they come in, everything's new to them and everything's kind of moving slow. But then by the end of the week, you can see how much they’ve progressed, how much faster they are, and achieving the tasks in a safe, fast manner. So, just seeing the growth over the weeks it's very, very nice," Tinnermann told the Columbus Division of Fire.
In the upcoming three weeks, the trainees will shift their focus to training specialized in structural collapse, confined space, and trench rescue. After completion, they will emerge with Rescue 2 qualifications, enabling them to serve on one of Columbus’s five rescue units, Rescue 3, Rescue 4, Rescue 11, Rescue 16, and Rescue 17. Placing their confidence in the diverse scenarios they have already encountered, the firefighters, among whose ranks include Jacob Allison, Justin Belmonte, and James Dennett, anticipate continuing their journey to become proficient rescuers in a city that prides itself on preparedness and community safety.
