Emergency personnel get fired up at annual Texas Fire Training Schools
COLLEGE STATION – The Texas A&M Engineering Extension Service (TEEX) turned up the heat last month for its three annual Texas Fire Training Schools®. Approximately 2,600 firefighters and emergency services personnel from across the state, the nation and the world flocked to Brayton Fire Training Field and braved temperatures in the high 90s to attend top-notch training in firefighting and rescue, hazardous materials and emergency medical services. More than 925 guest instructors assisted TEEX staff in delivering over 75 courses during the three weeklong schools.
On July 9-14, the Escuela para Bomberos en Espanol drew 428 students from 18 countries. The training was conducted entirely in the Spanish language by 166 guest instructors and TEEX staff.
The Industrial Fire School, held July 16-21, trained 614 members of industrial emergency response brigades and safety officers from some of the world’s largest oil & gas and chemical companies. More than 20 courses — most of them eligible for Pro Board certification — were conducted with the assistance of 239 guest instructors.
The Municipal Fire School, now in its 88th year, drew 1,558 participants from 193 Texas counties, as well as from 13 other states and three other countries. The training was conducted by 524 guest instructors and safety officers, as well as TEEX instructors. The school is hosted annually by TEEX in conjunction with the State Firefighters’ & Fire Marshals’ Association of Texas.
On the evening of July 26, a public firefighting and rescue demonstration was held for hundreds of area citizens and families of Fire School participants. TEEX staff and guest instructors demonstrated firefighting skills and rescue techniques through dramatic scenarios on some of the world’s largest firefighting props, including the nation’s largest bulk storage tank project.