Explorer Post 469, a junior firefighter program of Cherokee County Fire and Emergency Services for high school students, has earned third place in a national competition, the fire department announced.
The explorer post left Jan. 26 for the BSA Winterfest Competition Jan. 27 and 28 in Gatlinburg. Over 1,000 explorers and venturers from across the country attended the event this year, the first gathering since 2020.
Explorer Post 469 placed third in the Bleeding Wounds and Shock event and competed well in other events against nearly 30 other fire and EMS teams that participated, according to the fire department. These events involved the explorers performing interior search, removal of victims, hose deployment, emergency medical treatment and more.