On Monday, April 9th, State Representative Christopher Davis (R – Ellington) spent the day at the City ofHartford Fire Department Training Centerto get a taste of what a day in the life of a fire fighter is like.
The training known as Fire Ops 101, is an annual event hosted by the Uniformed Professional Fire Fighters Association to giveConnecticutlegislators an understanding of the everyday life of professional, career firefighters, by utilizing a “hands-on” approach. Rep. Davis is a member of the General Assembly’s Public Safety and Homeland Security Committee, which oversees fire and emergency services related legislation.
Participants in Fire Ops 101 went through a number of hands-on simulations including a simulated building fire, motor vehicle accident, emergency medical incident, and rapid intervention team work.
Rep. Davis uses a saw to simulate cutting through a roof during a Fire Ops 101 training exercise
“I have always been a strong supporter of our volunteer and professional fire fighters in our community, but today’s hands-on training gave me a more comprehensive appreciation of the work they do,”Davissaid. “Clearly the real-world situations these men and women go through everyday are far more stressful and dangerous than what we did today, but it was a good experience for me just to get an idea of what it takes to be a fire fighter, as well as the training, equipment, and staffing they need to successfully respond to emergencies. I encourage all elected officials, state and local, to participate in future events.”
Daviswas shadowed throughout the day by Gerald Bancroft, the Deputy Chief of the Broad Brook Fire Department. Bancroft, an experienced professional fire fighter for the City ofHartfordas well, mentoredDavis throughout the various scenarios and was a helpful resource to answer questions regarding fire and emergency services.
Rep. Davis with Broad Brook Deputy Chief Gerald Bancroft and Hartford Fire Fighters during Fire Ops 101 training
