Twelve volunteer firefighters participate in firefighting training over weekend
On Saturday, 12 Cook County volunteer firefighters participated in training in Cook County.
The firefighters began the morning by learning vehicle extrication, and each took turns learning how to use forcible entry tools. Then, the firefighters ventured over to Artist’s Point in the afternoon to learn water usage, hose, and hydrant skills.
The in-field training is part of an ongoing Firefighter ll training program that will wrap up in about a week, Hovland Deputy Fire Chief Terry Spieker said.
After completing a test next week, the firefighters will move on to the hazardous materials portion of the training with a certification exam at the end of March. Live burn training will also take place at the end of the month.
Spieker said they have a “really nice mix” of volunteer firefighters this year. He said they had hoped to have seven firefighters sign up for the training. To much delight, 12 volunteer firefighters signed up. “That was kind of a nice surprise.”
“Right now, we have a number of people from the Hovland Fire Department. We have a couple from the Lutsen Fire Department, and a couple from Maple Hill and also from Colvill,” Spieker said.
For Spieker, who is in his 36th year in fire service, being involved in firefighting has been very rewarding. “Fire service has been a big part of my life and just the whole aspect of the community service,” he said.
“It’s just a very rewarding and very fulfilling portion of my life,” Spieker said. “And I really can’t imagine anything without it.”
Although the fire departments had 12 volunteer firefighters participate in the training, Spieker said, there’s always room for more.
WTIP’s Kalli Hawkins visited the firefighting training on Saturday. Audio from the interview with Hovland Deputy Fire Chief Terry Spieker is below.
Photos from Saturday’s training below:
Kalli Hawkins March 4, 2024
