| The Vista Fire Department proudly congratulates Probationary Firefighter/EMT Candidate Hanna Zhao on successfully completing the Firefighter I program and the Firefighter Survival course, a comprehensive 152 hours of training conducted at the Westchester County Fire Training Center in Valhalla, New York.
The Firefighter I program consists of multiple components designed to prepare new firefighters for both exterior and interior fireground operations. The first phase, Basic Exterior Firefighting Operations with Hazardous Materials First Responder Operations, prepares firefighters to operate in exterior and non-IDLH environments. Training includes firefighter personal protective equipment, SCBA inspection and cylinder changes, fireground communications, building construction and fire behavior, modern fire control research, ladders, forcible entry, ventilation theory, water supply, hose and fire streams, loss control, fire prevention and life safety, confined space awareness, first aid and buddy care, and Hazardous Materials First Responder Operations.
The second phase, SCBA/Interior Firefighting Operations, builds upon this foundation and prepares firefighters to operate in IDLH environments as interior structural firefighters. Instruction covers SCBA donning, doffing, air management and emergency procedures, firefighter survival techniques, search and victim removal, hose line advancement, forcible entry, ventilation techniques, vehicle and wildland firefighting theory, coordinated interior and transitional fire attack, and initial company operations.
Hanna also completed the Firefighter Survival course, which is based on Chief John Salka’s “Get Out Alive” program and focuses on the self-rescue and rescue of trapped firefighters. The course teaches firefighters to recognize fireground conditions that may lead to disorientation or entrapment, maintain the safety of their partners and crew members, and perform emergency self-rescue techniques when separated, disoriented, trapped, or required to rapidly exit a structure.
The Firefighter Survival course includes extensive practical evolutions while operating in self-contained breathing apparatus and incorporates the National Fire Academy’s “Calling the Mayday” program.
Throughout both programs, Hanna participated in hands-on practical evolutions designed to build confidence, teamwork, situational awareness, and the skills necessary to operate safely and effectively on the fireground.
Congratulations to Probationary Firefighter/EMT Candidate Zhao on these significant achievements and her continued commitment to training, safety, and excellence in the fire service.
All training is provided free of charge to Vista Fire Department members, and we are always looking for new volunteers! If you’re interested in joining, call us at (914) 533-2727, email Info@VistaFD.org, visit https://www.vistafd.org/content/become/, or apply online at https://www.vistafd.org/apply |
