The Alexandria Fire Department will soon open its doors to the public as part of its free eight-week fall fire academy.
The deadline is Sept. 20 (Saturday) to apply for the hands-on program, which runs from Oct. 6 to Nov. 10, and space is limited to 12 participants who are at least 18 years of age. The classes are held on Mondays from 6 to 9 p.m., and participants can expect to learn about fire safety, the history of the department, daily life within AFD, and more.
“They will learn skills such as cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), how to stretch a hose line, ladder operations, and how an engine and truck operate, along with special operations skills,” AFD said.
According to AFD:
The purpose of the Alexandria Community Fire Academy is to educate the Alexandria community about fire safety and emergency medical response, while learning about the history, administration, operations and apparatus of an urban public safety agency. The goal of the Academy is to build partnerships within the community by helping participants understand how the fire department works, and to encourage volunteering within the community…
Firefighters and paramedics are exposed to danger every day on the job. The fire service is very challenging physically and mentally, and to receive the full experience, in some Academy classes participants will be involved in physical activities such as learning CPR, lifting patient stretchers, extending ladders, carrying mannequins, stretching hose lines, and more.
The program is not associated with the AFD recruit school for incoming firefighters.
