Learn about ECFR at ‘Citizens Academy’

Local residents interested in learning more about how a fire district works are invited to attend the upcoming East County Fire and Rescue Citizens Academy.

The free event will be held Saturday, March 17, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., at the Fern Prairie Fire Station, 600 N.E. 267th Ave., Camas, next to Grove Field.

Most of the day will be ‘hands on’ application of the knowledge and skills used by local firefighter/emergency medical responders.

Discussion topics include ECFR’s mission and vision statements, agency values, a review of the 2012 budget, information on injury and fire prevention efforts, and how the national incident command system is used to manage emergency scenes.

‘Hands on’ activities include providing emergency medical care and treating a cardiac arrest patient; use of fire hose, water tenders and other equipment to attack a fire; and using the Hurst tool to assist with auto extrication. Following completion of the class, participants will be invited to schedule a ride-a-long on an ECFR fire engine.

Those who successfully complete the March 17 basic academy will be invited back to the Advanced Academy on Saturday, April 28. That day will feature ‘hands on’ sessions in triaging patients from a multi-casualty incident; operating an emergency operations center to mitigate a regional disaster; and performing search and rescue and fire attack.

Protective gear will be provided by ECFR. Participants must bring their own lunch each day.

Each session is limited to 12 participants, who must be at least 18 years of age and in reasonably good physical condition. A liability release must be signed to participate.

For more information or to reserve a spot in the academy, email ECFR Chief Scott Koehler at SKoehler@EastCoFire-Rescue.org.