The Reno Fire Department held an annual training program on Wednesday, centering on specific elements of how firefighters face emergency situations.
Fighting fires is no easy task and is stacked with immense risk throughout the process. Preparing for the unexpected is key to always staying alert and ready to take action should any type of fire erupt.
Training involves multiple components and requires a depth of tested knowledge and skills.
The Reno Fire Department focuses on keeping its team ready at the drop of a dime with their annual training course, the "Wildland Fire Safety Training Annual Refresher."
This program provides detailed safety training, from operating equipment and quick decision-making in high-risk situations to fire line safety, fire shelters, how to prepare for the unexpected, and making sure firefighters are updated on their knowledge and skills each year.
"In the field portion, we've done some of the stuff up here," said Reno Fire Division Chief Peter Briant. "We do a radio training, and we get into the fire shelters. We have practice fire shelters that we get into in case the firefighters are entrapped. We also have some internet-based training, with videos about past fires, close calls that have happened in the past, and lessons learned nationally from all the wildland firefighting over the last year."
The incident commanders and captains are also responsible for seeking out additional resources.
This involves the physical firefighting portion, and then there's also the command aspect, to make sure everybody's asking for help from aircraft, other fire engines, and other personnel.
In the event of a wildfire crisis, no matter the size, it's always important to be prepared, know how to take action, and help keep yourself and those around you safe.
