Wake County Essentials of Firefighting Academy

Our newest member Matthew Baskerville attended the spring rookie academy at the Wake County Fire Training Center. During this intense two-weekend class new firefighters are given a crash course in the basics of the trade.

Click the links below to view photos from each weekend.

First Weekend
Second Weekend
Back to Photo Gallery

3 - 4 May 2003
Instructors: Jason Loftus, Matthew Poole, Tramp Dunn, David Zoltoski, Tony Mauldin, Sue-Lynn Hinson
On the first weekend, we had 35 students from Wake and Harnett Counties. Students first learned how to put on their turnout gear. Drills got progressively more advanced throughout the weekend, from ladders to hose handling to building searches and finally, the first taste of fire in the burn building. Click on the thumbnails to view a larger photo.
Back to Top

17 - 18 May 2003
Instructors: Jason Loftus, Matthew Poole, Alan Baker, Donel Braxton, Gerald Atkins, Sue-Lynn Hinson Fire Stokers: Tony Mauldin, Shaun Sweeney
On the second weekend we had 29 students representing Angier Black River, Apex, Bayleaf, Coats Grove, Durham Highway, Eastern Wake, Fairview, Falls, Garner, Knightdale Public Safety, Swift Creek, Wake Forest and Western Wake fire departments. Most of this weekend was spent outside doing live burn scenarios at the various props - the LP tank, schoolbus, and burn building. Click on the thumbnails to view a larger photo.
	Instructor Alan Baker was sporting one of the new style fire helmets. He insisted that it was comfortable and very effective at protecting against the heat. It still did earn him the nickname "George Jetson" for the afternoon, though.
Will the real Montel Williams please stand up!
Back to Top