By Taylor Tanner
On Saturday, September 14, members of the New Caney, Central and Caney Creek Fire Departments attended a 40-hour training class at Caney Creek Station 81.
“After the Bastrop and Magnolia fires, the Texas Forest Service saw the need for a 40-hour class,” Caney Creek Fire Chief Raymond Flannelly said. “Any fire department in the state of Texas takes it in order to receive grant funding, and reimbursement if you go to one of these fires.”
Around 30 firefighters were present at the class, which ended Tuesday afternoon, with two instructors that taught some important terminology. This will help clarify communications during the next wildfire season, keeping all the departments on the same page and preventing any mishaps caused by misunderstandings.
The class has also resulted in the introduction of tools called shelters that each man will carry on his person. Shelters are, essentially, 4-foot by 4-foot sleeping bags that will reflect radiating heat from fires.
These shelters, which are last resorts for the worst situations, were deployed in an instructor-run simulation for the attendees of the class.
While they are present in many fire departments, Caney Creek and Central Montgomery County Fire Departments are still in the process of buying the units.
Firefighters were also taught to take into consideration the weather patterns and the effects they have on wild fire prevention and control.
Things like humidity levels and wind patterns will now be more carefully considered. These were factors that many firefighters wouldn’t have taken into consideration before.
These classes have served to make the firefighting force better informed, more conscious of surroundings and better prepared.
