Final exams are always tough — but when was the last time a teacher asked you to extinguish a burning truck, or to navigate an obstacle course blindfolded?
Cordova Volunteer Fire Department members undergoing a 280-hour class are required to master everything from fire science and building construction to knot-tying and department history. Saturday, Jan. 16, students went on a field trip to a site off the Copper River Highway where they trained their hoses on a pair of burning pickup trucks. The donated vehicles were set alight by Fire Marshal Paul Trumblee using “Trumblee’s special blend,” a potent accelerant whose formula is a department secret.
“Fire is fun!” firefighter Chris Iannazzone remarked. “Seeing a fire and putting it out really gets the adrenaline going… There’s a lot more to this training than I would have ever imagined.”
The department’s close-knit teamwork helped turn a potentially trying ordeal into a fun and challenging afternoon learning to wield high-pressure hoses, said firefighter Jayleene Garrett.