GRAFTON — After a year-long publicity campaign, numerous personal conversations, a desperate public appeal to rebuild the department, and the creation of an entry-level exterior firefighter course, the Grafton Fire Department recently welcomed 10 new members to its ranks.
These 10 new firefighters have completed 40 hours of training over a 12-week period that combined classroom teaching with hands-on instruction. Topics included fire behavior, wildland fires, hose operation and care, hydrants, ropes, communications, ladders, traffic control, and personal safety.
Initially, the trainees signed up for a course to be auxiliary firefighters with limited responsibility. After two classes, they asked whether the scope of the training could be expanded. Assistant Chief Keith Hermiz responded by merging a future exterior firefighting course with the auxiliary course and increasing the number of classes to encompass a broader range of topics and skills.
The trainees attended class one night a week over three months, as well as some Saturdays. For their final “exam,” they were presented with radio pagers that promptly sounded a tone for them to respond to a call. They donned their recently assigned turnout gear and responded to the scene of what was a simulated incident, where they could exhibit their newly learned skills.
Upon the completion of the exercise, the trainees were presented with plaques for their vehicles, fire department shirts, and certificates acknowledging their completion of the Grafton Fire Department Entry Level Exterior Firefighters course.