PERRYSBURG, Ohio — Penta Career Center will be full of firefighters and first responders Saturday and Sunday for an annual event known as the "Regional Fire School".
The Northwestern Ohio Volunteer Fireman's Association will host the event, where 1,300 first responders and fire cadets will gather to share new tricks - and technology - of the trade. The goal of this year's event is to get hands-on experience.
On March 9 and 10, HAZMAT and EMS personnel from all across Ohio will bring in their most innovative skills and equipment.
The Fire School Chairman Jeff Orphal said the event is important because first responders pick up new skills on the job all year round. He also said the gear they use is constantly evolving to secure their safety, so it's a great way to learn about equipment suits and even uniforms that may be used in the future.
This year there are classes that will allow first responders and cadets to put out live fires. These classes, called "hot classes", involve a trailer set on fire with propane gas. Fire school attendees will gear up and put the fires out.
"Within the trailer, it's safe, it's controlled, and then the student will go in as pairs," said Orphal. "They will drag in the hose line, they search for the fire and then they go in and extinguish it. It's great for the younger students because they don't get a lot of the real-life fire training."
Cadets can be as young as 14, but adults also come to the fire school to sharpen their skills.
Orphal said there are also two new classes that will teach their students how to use newer technology.
"We've got two classes on electric vehicles. They offer a unique way for us to respond to fires and how we do extrication . We also have the ODNR, the Ohio Department of Natural Resources. They are coming in and doing wild and field fires, and [teaching] how we attack it and manage it," he said.
Although the fire school is strictly for first responders and fire cadets, the community is invited to come out to the Penta academy for lunch. There will be seven food trucks present to serve everyone.
The event is held from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. this weekend at the Penta Career Center located at 9301 Buck Road in Perrysburg.
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