Today in photos: 3/28/08
Photo: Special to the Daily Journal/Messenger
State Fire Academy graduates 24, including local firefighter - The South Carolina Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation’s South Carolina Fire Academy graduated 24 students Feb. 22 from its seven-week firefighter candidate school in Columbia, including local Eric Kelley of the West Union Fire Department. The firefighters from 19 fire departments across the state and one out-of-country department underwent a 280-hour training program of classroom and hands-on firefighting skills development. The in-depth training, offered quarterly at the Fire Academy, includes emergency responder first aid training, hazardous materials operations training, auto extrication, flammable liquids and gas firefighting, rescue training, National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) Firefighter I and Firefighter II levels. “This is a very challenging program that requires teamwork, in-depth study, extensive hands-on training with live fires, eight practical skills evaluations and six written tests to meet the National Fire Protection Association standards,” said Fire Academy Superintendent Ed Roper.