Friday, Mar. 11, 2005 | ||
Bad Links? | Natl test impacts volunteer rosterBy LEE WILLIAMS Keeping an ample supply of volunteer firefighters in Peachtree City has become more challenging as certification standards continue to increase. But Peachtree City Fire and Rescue officials will not waver from their commitment of keeping adequate manpower to provide fire protection to their citizens. At least four men and two women have been tapped to go through a volunteer firefighter class. The class started Dec. 1 and will end with an exam April 22-23, Eiswerth added. Every six months, we put a recruit class through and we put them through a five- to six-month recruit firefighter class, Eiswerth said. The class is one night per week and every Saturday. The fire department has 35 active volunteers, but Eiswerth indicated they are always looking for more. The volunteer firefighter roster changes often. We are constantly putting them on because its such a high turnover because they get hired on somewhere else, Eiswerth said referring to the recruit firefighter classes routinely offered at the department. At the end of the training, firefighters must take a national test and if they pass they will receive the certification called NPQ Firefighter I. Volunteer firefighters must pass the national test in order to work as a volunteer in Peachtree City. This exam is what taxes Peachtree Citys pool of volunteer firefighters, officials say. Higher demands makes it difficult to retain volunteers, Eiswerth indicated. Previously, volunteer firefighters did not have to be nationally certified. But the state of Georgia now recognizes volunteers as full-fledged firefighters, Peachtree City Fire Chief Stony Lohr indicated. Another drawback of retaining volunteers could be that full-time employment is not promised to the recruits. We tell them that even if they get on as a volunteer, that doesnt mean they will get a job here, Eiswerth said. Many recruits find jobs in Dekalb, Newnan and Fayette County fire departments and occasionally in Peachtree City, Eiswerth indicated. A lot of them begin their career here and move on somewhere else and some of them stay here and some end up being hired, he said. Volunteers who have aspirations of working at the Peachtree City fire department must receive their EMT 1 certification in addition to the NPQ Firefighter 1 national certification, he added. These classes are offered at Griffin Technical College off of U.S. 19/41 in Griffin. The requirements are tougher but many recruits still pass. Applicants who would like to become a volunteer firefighter at Peachtree City Fire and Rescue can pick up an application at 105 N. Peachtree Parkway or visit its Web site at www.peachtreecityfd.org. The application can be found by highlighting Volunteer Info and clicking on Application.
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