FIRE DAY BLOG

By James Meyer, Class 40

 

This week, we were fortunate enough to visit the Scottsdale Fire Department Training Center, and let me just say—it did not disappoint. The day kicked off with Chief Tom Shannon explaining how the Fire Department works, the many roles within it, and the daily challenges firefighters face (which turns out is a lot more than just sliding down poles). 

 

Our Day Chairs for this exciting day were, Scottsdale’s Fire Marshal Kristi Gagnon of Class 38, Deputy Chief Michael Bolinger of Class 39, and Deputy Chief Andrew McDonald also of Class 39 (Greatest of All Time). 

 

Deputy Chief Bollinger and Deputy Chief McDonald gave us a behind-the-scenes look at their day-to-day lives and what it really takes to be part of Scottsdale Fire. We wrapped up the speakers with Fire Marshal Kristi Gagnon, who told us about handling fires during major events, crowd control, and somehow staying calm when thousands of people are involved. She shared video of what can happen when people do not pay attention to the safety protocols, and it was hard to watch. We definitely will now approach big events with a different sense of understanding and we are grateful that we are in such great hands here in Scottsdale. 

 

After lunch came the best part: hands-on training. First, we got to climb on the fire trucks, which instantly made everyone feel about five years old again. Then we went 100 feet into the air on the ladder—an experience that was equal parts awesome and “why did I agree to this?” Next, it was time to save Bob, our CPR dummy. Unfortunately, Bob did not have a great day. I’m pretty sure he died more than he lived, but we tried our best, and that’s what matters.

 

We also learned how to use a fire extinguisher and put out a real fire. I’m happy to report that everyone survived and each group successfully saved the day. All jokes aside, this was an amazing experience and really showed us just how much the incredible people at the Scottsdale Fire Department do every single day to keep us safe.