Thirteen newly trained firefighters have been added to the Kachemak Emergency Services Area, Western Emergency Services Area and Homer Volunteer Fire Department rosters after completing the Firefighter-1, Hazardous Materials Awareness, and Hazardous Materials Operations class.
The class began in October 2021, and participants met every Monday and Wednesday evenings, as well as all day on Saturdays to learn about various topics such as fire behavior, search and rescue, fire control and property conservation, according to a press release from KESA.
The classes were a joint operation by all three emergency services, with each unit providing equipment, facilities and instructors for the lessons exercises. The class concluded with a state-administered written and practical exam on Feb. 18 and 19.
“All three departments have small fulltime crews of Firefighter/EMTs or Firefighter/Paramedics to begin a response to emergency calls, but rely heavily on volunteers to augment that response,” a press release from KESA Deputy Chief Eric Schultz reads. “This cooperative effort puts 13 new firefighters in the field to help protect the residents and visitors of the southern Kenai Peninsula, and many of those new firefighters will continue their training and increase their capabilities by attending an upcoming EMT class.”
For information on how to join a local fire department, contact Homer Volunteer Fire Department at
