Twenty-nine Falcon Fire Protection District firefighters took part in a training session March 3. Fire Chief Trent Harwig said the operating budget doesnít provide for a dedicated training facility, so the opportunity for hands on fire training presented by Falcon property owner Pati Starkman was a ìrare and welcome event.î Starkman invited the Falcon firefighters to burn an old mobile home sitting on her property.ìWhen a home is donated, it must meet a long list of safety requirements such as being asbestos free,î Harwig said. ìThen the firefighters are able to test their classroom skills in a semi-controlled environment where civilian lives and belongings are not at risk.îHarwig said firefighters use all their training on safety and their knowledge of ìfire scienceî because this type of training is not the usual controlled environment of a training facility. There is a risk, but the training is essential, and the skills gained are ìpriceless,î he said.ìWhen these firefighters, career or volunteer, are called to an emergency, the citizens of Falcon can rest assured they will be prepared to meet the challenge.î(Marylou Doehrman interviewed Trent Harwig for this brief writeup.)
