BGSU State Fire School features residential training

BOWLING GREEN, O.—More than 320 firefighters are in and around Bowling Green State University this week to chop holes in vacant buildings, sift through charred debris for evidence of arson and rappel down the football stadium. The training exercises are part of State Fire School, which began today (May 7).

The firefighters represent 132 fire departments and brigades from Ohio and Michigan as well as Ontario, Canada.

For the first time, BGSU has donated several residential buildings for training on the dangers of entering and escaping structures. Firefighters will be at 1372 and 830 E. Wooster St., and 313 Thurstin Ave. from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. tomorrow (May 8) through Thursday, May 10.

Basic and intermediate rope rescue training will take place Tuesday-Thursday at Doyt Perry Football Stadium.

Fire School students will also take part in extrication training and learn how to investigate fire scenes for arson.

All firefighters at State Fire School gain practical, hands-on training to take back to their communities, but many are also earning college credit toward a degree. BGSU’s online bachelor of science in fire administration program began with its first cohort of students in August 2011.

BGSU also was granted approval last year to begin teaching the Fire Inspector Certification class in a hybrid/online format. The University is the only chartered agency approved to teach Fire Instructor and Fire Inspector certification in this format. 

Major sponsors of State Fire School include Paratech, Ohio CAT and Sutphen Corp.

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Editor’s Note:  For more information on class times and dates, to interview firefighting personnel from your community, or for the opportunity to actually participate in firefighter training, contact Kerry Gonzalez at 419-372-0503.

(Posted May 07, 2012 )