Wangemann gets fire fighter 'OJT'

GAINESVILLE - Gainesville Councilman George Wangemann Tuesday morning learned what it's like to be a fire fighter at the Joint Gainesville Hall County Fire Training Center; he joined recruits in learning how to battle flames in a simulated house fire.

Wangemann suited up and went in to fight three smoky hot fires inside the training tower and said he now has a real appreciation of what fire fighters have to know and what they do.

"I learned that they definitely know what they're doing and I just followed their lead," Wangemann said. "They gave me specific instructions to stay low and stay with the team on the fire hose, I did just that and I did fine."

Wangemann said he wanted a better understanding of fire fighting and learned with 'on the job training' along with four department trainees. Fire Chief Jon Canada said his City Council volunteer recruit did just fine.

"We did three full scenarios," Chief Canada said. "We took the recruits in and we taught them how a fire grows then after that we went in on a live fire scenario. We gave Mr. Wangemann the nozzle and let him have some experience of putting the fire out; he did well."

Canada said the recruit class is about two weeks away from completion with the four recruits graduating the end of the month. This was the week for search and rescue drills and fire fighting.

"We now allow the recruits to put everything they've learned over the last 12 to 14 weeks into practice," the Chief said.

http://accesswdun.com/article/2010/10/233151