I've been teaching a FFI/II course which is almost finished (yeee haw - my wife will be sooo glad) While we have been doing alot of the practical skills as we covered the material, this Saturday will be a 1/2 day event to kind of put it all together.

I've been busy preparing the past few weeks, getting supplies and other insturctors lined up to help. I think that we will all have a very fun and EDUCATIONAL day.

I have search and rescue planned for upstairs. Will be setting up several rooms with different obstacles to manuver around.

Outside we will be doing ladder evolutions along with roof operations. I plan on incorporating ropes and knots into this scenario as well for the hoisting and lowering of tools.

One hydrant will be used for hooking up and filling our tankers, another one will be used to hook up directly to a pumper. We will do short tanker shuttles around the building into a drop tank and then do drafting operations from there. Fire streams will be covered by from these stations also.

With most of the trucks out of the bay, another pumper will be used to practice hose loads.

A local salvage yard will be setting up several cars for us to do extrication training. Basic emergency care will be covered also with this scenario too.

All of this will culminate with a BBQ and refreshments. The guys in my class have put in alot of time and effort into the class and have done a great job. There are several that really shine and will become good leaders on their departments. Of course, I think that I've learned just as much from the class as they have. Even after 15 years you can teach an old dog a trick or two.

John