By Pamela Ferris-Olson
Dayton Daily News (Ohio)
Copyright 2006 Dayton Newspapers, Inc.
WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP, Ohio — Pardon the expression, but Randy the Rescue Dummy feels like dead weight. Try pulling the 180-pound fully-articulated dummy while dressed in rubber suit and boots. That’s how firefighters train to do their job, and it’s what a small group of citizens had a chance to experience at the Washington Twp. Fire Department Citizen’s Fire Academy.
“Just about every interaction we have with the public is on a bad day,” WTFD volunteer coordinator Scott Henry said. “This way we can have a chance to interact with them and have some fun.”
Henry is responsible for the conception and organization of the citizen’s fire academy. The five-week program, which began Oct. 4, takes place from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Wednesdays.
Henry said he’d love for some of the participants to become township volunteer firefighters, but that was not the main purpose of the program.
“Our intent was to increase the public’s awareness of what we do and increase their knowledge of safety,” Henry said.
During the five weeks, Henry discusses medical, rescue and a host of other topics. Citizens also receive hands-on opportunities such as lugging hoses and rescuing Randy.
“People don’t have to be 20 years old or in shape, and if they don’t want to dress in our gear they don’t have to,” Henry said.
Henry said that it’s unusual these days to find a community like Washington Twp. with a fire department where 50 percent of the staff is composed of volunteers. The term volunteer is actually a misnomer as the volunteers receive compensation for their service.
During the day, township firehouses are staffed by full- and part-time crews. From 6 p.m. to 6 a.m., firefighting is performed by volunteers. The only exception is the ambulance staff. Ambulances are staffed 24 hours a day by a regular crew.
Henry expects to offer the citizen’s fire academy again in 2007. Anyone interested in the academy or in volunteer firefighter opportunities can contact Henry at (937) 433-3083.