Hamlin firefighter Ron Fey practices a window bail under the watchful eye of the New York State instructor. John Deserto photo.

Hamlin and Walker firefighters team up to prepare an unconscious firefighter to be removed out a second floor window. John Deserto photo.

Area fire departments complete FAST training

About a dozen volunteer firefighters completed the rigorous Firefighter Assist Search Team (FAST) course and a firefighter survival course in recent weeks. The firefighter survival course focuses on skills needed to allow a firefighter to escape from a deteriorating condition inside a fire. The practical skills like breaching walls, window escapes and ladder bails were practiced at an empty home that was donated to the Hamlin Fire Department. This home was also used during the FAST team training where teams of firefighters are trained to rescue trapped firefighters.

Classroom instruction was followed by the practical application of rescuing a firefighter trapped in a basement, removing an unconscious firefighter through a window and was capped off with several situations that put all the skills into practice. This training was the beginning of a series of FAST classes that Hamlin and Hilton will jointly run in preparation for their roles as each other's FAST company.

Volunteer firefighters from Walker, Spencerport and Brockport, in addition to Hamlin and Hilton, participated in the training.

June 3, 2007