Area volunteer fire deparments attend training conference

Eighteen volunteer fire departments, almost 70 men and women, gave up the weekend Dec. 1-2 to meet at Jasper High School for a training conference and several practice sessions, according to East End Fire Chief Bob Gary.

Saturday the volunteers trained with hose deployment and tanker drills, and Sunday was the equivalent of defensive driving, but in fire trucks. Trucks had to thread their way down an obstacle course of orange pylons, back up, and do measured precision stops.

Texas Engineering Extension Service of Texas A&M assisted with instruction. Students earned collectively 800 hours, which counts toward certification from the State Firemen's and Fire Marshals' Association.

"The more certified volunteers a department has, the better the ISO rating," Gary said. Better ISO ratings may lower homeowners' insurance, according to Gary.

Departments who sent students include the Angelina River Volunteer Fire Department, Buna VFD, Dam B VFD, East End VFD, Ivanhoe VFD, Jasper FD, Lake Rayburn FD, Lumberton Fire and EMS, Northeast Fire and Rescue from Harris County, Pine Prairie VFD, San Augustine FD, Spurger VFD, Tool VFD from Henderson County, Tri-Community VFD, and a retired volunteer from Chambers County.