Mid-Columbia Fire and Rescue Hard At Work
By Cole Goodwin
The Dalles, Oregon, March 7, 2024 –The firefighters of Mid-Columbia Fire and Rescue (MCFR), were not just waiting for the next call on March 5th. Instead, they were actively engaging in rigorous training exercises at Calvary Baptist Church on Columbia View Drive in The Dalles, to ensure their preparedness during a crisis.
Chief Bob Palmer from Mid-Columbia Fire and Rescue shared insights into a day of training for the "A" shift teams, highlighting the continuous effort that goes into maintaining their readiness.
Engine Company 21 and Engine Company 22 were deep in the throes of their assigned multi-company training evolutions, a monthly ritual that is anything but routine. These sessions are designed to refine the basic yet crucial skills every firefighter must possess to effectively respond to emergencies.
Skills practiced during the training session included deploying hoses with precision, executing rescue operations under pressure, and teamwork.
Captain Palmer emphasized the significance of these training sessions.
"Training is the backbone of a fire department," said Palmer. “It produces a well-prepared force that through repetition increases the speed of an operation and enhances proper execution while reducing injuries.”
“A firefighter who arrives at an emergency unprepared can be faced with life-and-death situations and will find himself or herself under extreme stress to perform his or her duties,” said Palmer.
The ramifications of showing up unprepared to an emergency scene cannot be overstated. Being underprepared and overwhelmed in such situations places not just the firefighters, but entire teams and the community they are trying to protect, at risk.
MCFR’s training is meant to ensure that doesn’t happen.
As fire safety continues to be an ongoing and seasonal threat in our communities, MCFR is working to ensure a calm response in the face of fiery chaos thanks to rigorous training and dedication from our local heroes.
"Training benefits everyone: the firefighter, the company officer, the fire district, and most of all, our community," said Palmer.
Palmer also reminded the community to take care and stay safe when it comes to fire.
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