Charleston Fire Department Receives Training Scholarship

             

The City of Charleston (South Carolina) Fire Department recently received a $6,000 training scholarship from True North, a source for quality bags, backpacks and fire-resistant clothing. The scholarship will provide for training from On Scene Training Associates to teach tactics and strategies for engaging commercial “Big Box” fires.

The city of Charleston has experienced tremendous growth, including many large structures such as strip malls and other commercial buildings. This increase of large commercial space has created new hazards that firefighters need increased training to face, such as the Sofa Super Store Fire on June 18, 2007. Nine firefighters died in that fire's flashover and structural collapse.

To make sure Charleston firefighters get the greatest benefit from the training, Aaron Heller of On Scene Training spent two days with the department's training officer and other personnel learning about the current training curriculum, tools and equipment, and the community they protect. The training program will be held April 26-28 and will involve a day of interactive classroom education and two days of hands-on skills training.

“This course will be a great addition to the Charleston Fire Department's training curriculum and will assist them in bringing a unique and innovative program to all of the CFD firefighters. It is always a thrill to know that we have the opportunity to bring realistic hands-on training to a department who has endured so much,” Heller said.

For more information and to apply for the True North Firefighter Training Scholarship, visit www.truenorthgear.com/scholarship. For more information about On Scene Training Associates, visit www.onscenetraining.com.