Better Training for FireFighters
ATOKA, OK– More than 500 firefighters from 85 departments across Oklahoma are gathered in Atoka for a weekend of free fire training courses.
All the participants enjoyed lunch at the Atoka Cafetorium, Saturday.
They’ll take part in courses involving extrication, water shuttle and HAZMAT safety.
Organizers say more than 90% of the firefighters involved in the training are volunteers.
Money from the state of Oklahoma helps provide the services to keep all the volunteers up to date on new fire safety technology.
Several politicians, including Lieutenant Governor Jeri Askins, were on hand to talk about the importance of the training and state funding.
Ralph Brown is the Director of Fire Service Training at OSU and helped organize the event, “This is the third year we’ve gotten funding from the state legislature. We get $821,000 for the rural volunteer firefighter training. Before that, we did not have the resources to take the training to the volunteers at no cost. And the money that we get has allowed us to do schools like this, this is probably the largest school that we’ve had.”
Oklahoma Lieutenant Governor, Jari Askins said, “To know that there are people out there that are willing to go out there and fight for subscriptions from their neighbors, and put on chili suppers, and pie suppers and bean dinners, and try to raise money to make sure that they have adequate equipment, to help take care of property is just a service beyond belief.”
The weekend long training session kicked off Friday night with a fire truck parade down Court Street in Atoka.
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