KINGSTON - Ten firefighters from the Kingston Volunteer Fire Department (KVFD) took part in basic wildland fire training through the National Fire Academy and are now certified to fight wildland fires.
Now, all 12 of the KVFD's firefighters are certified, said Adam Greenfield, assistant fire chief for the KVFD and an engine operator for the Bureau of Land Management (BLM).
Greenfield, who is the training officer for the KVFD, was one of the instructors who conducted the training. He is certified as an instructor through the National Fire Academy.
Prior to the one-day training class that was held from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on June 22, the firefighters had to complete a 40-hour online course. The field training day was taught by the BLM but it was through the National Fire Academy, explained Greenfield, who added that the academy offers the training and certification free of charge.
Greenfield was assisted on the training day by fellow BLM firefighters Captain Brad Bryant and Nick Rossmiller, who are stationed in Eureka along with Greenfield. The BLM also lent the use of a fire truck.
"We probably wouldn't have been able to do the field day without the support from the BLM," Greenfield said.
The field training was conducted at the KVFD fire house and included learning how to launch a mobile attack and doing handline construction and progressive hoselay. The instructors went over tool sharpening skills, drafting and scene size-up.
"This was a good opportunity for the Kingston Volunteer Fire Department to receive training in fighting wildfires that not only benefited the firefighters of Kingston but the community of Kingston as a whole," said Greenfield, of Austin, who has been with the BLM for two years and with the KVFD for eight months. He spent seven years as a firefighter for the National Park Service and has 10 years of experience in structure fires.
Greenfield said he wanted to give a huge pat on the back to Lander County for providing the grant funding for the KVFD to get new wildland firefighting gear and for supporting the fire department.
The county granted at their March 13 budget workshop $14,661 to go toward personal protective equipment for structure and wildland fires as well as self-contained breathing apparatus. Kingston's personal protective equipment has a 10-year fire protection rating and dates back to the 1980s and 90s.
The department also got approved for $50,000 from the Lander County Safety Committee for the personal protective equipment. The money granted is to be shared by both Austin and Kingston.
In January, Lander County commissioners approved for the county to fund $4,000 in immunizations for the firefighters, which included hepatitis a-b, tetanus and tuberculosis.
The next big training that is in store for the Kingston firefighters will be hazardous materials training that will be done in conjunction with Austin firefighters.
The training will be held tentatively at the end of September in Kingston and Austin, said Greenfield. It will be funded through the state of Nevada Fire Marshal's Office.[[In-content Ad]]
