Fire Department

Eight-day orientation prepares leaders to become company officers

Eleven of our members recently completed over sixty hours of classroom and hands-on learning for their new role as Lieutenant. Lieutenants are the leaders within a fire crew, and they act as the commanding officer on most emergency scenes. This orientation covered subjects from elevator, natural gas, and electrical emergencies to management of personnel in the station setting.

At the end of the week, they pulled together lessons emphasized in the classroom by taking command of residential and commercial live fire scenarios with an engine and ladder crew. Training of this kind reinforces their already strong skill sets so they flourish when it’s their turn to be promoted.

During their second week of training, they honed their skills in car extrication and high-rise fire operations, as well as discussed challenges and expectations of a first-year company officer. These are some comments from the group:

“I was taught the importance of clear communication.”
“We left with better knowledge of how to perform as leaders.”
“I learned that I am fortunate to work for a department with so many talented and motivated people.”

Overall, these newest company officers of the department will show up equipped and prepared to take care of any of your neighborhood emergencies. We welcome these members to the newly promoted Lieutenant list:

• Paul Poker
• Eric Winker
• Pat Howe
• Dan Verhagen
• David Schrimpf
• Bob Luling
• Derek Brown
• Peter Friedericks
• Laura Prom
• Jake Kuehne
• Bob O’Hagan

These individuals will be promoted in order of seniority as positions become available in the department. Congratulations to this latest class of new Lieutenants!

This blog was authored by Apparatus Engineer Lori Kneebone-Karst.