This Saturday morning several of our Firefighters continued helping some of our Probationary Firefighters prepare for Firefighter I class by going over a 2-minute donning and doffing drill followed by training through a mask confidence course in the Vista Firehouse.

Prior to entering the SCBA mask confidence course our Firefighters also showed our Probationary Firefighters the "SCBA low profile maneuver" that Firefighters use when entering a tight space. During this training our Vista Firefighters showed how to properly semi-remove the SCBA so they can enter a small area. Following this training our Probationary Firefighters observed our Firefighters who have passed Firefighter I enter a mask confidence course.

The purpose of a mask confidence course is to test Firefighters on adapting to wearing a SCBA at all times in the best and worst of training scenarios. We want to build up the confidence and strength of our Probationary Firefighters wearing an SCBA so they are fully prepared for their Firefighter I course.

After watching our Firefighters demonstrate the mask confidence course while they had their masks blacked out, our Probationary Firefighters went through the course, while on air, with the ability to see what was in front of them as this was one of the first times they had ever performed training such as this.