Hundreds of Firemen Converge on Livingston for Training, LIVINGSTON, March 1, 2008 - Nearly 300 volunteer firemen converged on Livingston for 2 days of intense, tough training and classes to sharpen their skills as our volunteer firemen (and women). Massive flames and large volumes of water were seen and heard early and often all over Livingston's fire training facility. Firefighters were trained in putting out: electrical fires, car fires, house fires, liquefied petroleum gas fires, tank storage fires. In addition to putting out fires, they also sharpened their skills in extraction of people from trapped or pinned in situations (which includes using the Jaws of Life). They also took classes in self contained breathing apparatus (a mask to help them breathe when smoke is dense). PolkCountyToday.com asked Lee Hon, a Livingston volunteer fireman for 10 years, what would a person need to do to become a volunteer firefighter. Lee jokingly said, "They would have to be an adrenaline junky", then became more serious and stated that "...a person needs to have the spirit of public service, a desire to help their fellow men and women, and go to their local volunteer fire department and express a desire to help". The training is tough, as firemen walk about the compound from class to class wearing thick fire suits, loaded down with gear, and often combatting intense flames. By all appearances, volunteer firemen are very family oriented as families of the volunteers were all over the compound often following their special firefighter around.
