On Nov. 16, community stakeholders from across Hamilton and Boone counties attended Fire Ops 101. This day-long program allowed participants hands on firefighting and Emergency Medical Services (EMS) operations under the controlled supervision of Hamilton County’s professional fire fighters.
Photo provided
“The Fire Ops 101 program began 12 years ago to help elected and appointed officials understand what it takes to keep their community safe,” said Tony Murray, President of Hamilton County Professional Fire Fighters Local 4416. “It changes the perspective of someone looking at taxpayer dollars and how those dollars work to fund public safety in the community from the numbers on balance sheet to actually doing the work on the streets.”
Participants completed four main experiences: 1) Live fire behavior in the flashover chamber, 2) Search and rescue of a trapped victim, 3) Vehicle extrication, and 4) A heart condition that deteriorates to cardiac arrest.
The immersive exercises stakeholders and decision makers experienced through each “emergency” highlight how physically demanding, potentially dangerous, technical and training intensive a career in the fire service must be. Participants experienced firsthand the level of technical expertise and skill needed to deliver a high level of service to citizens in a community.
Photo provided
Fire Ops 101 attendees were:
- Ken Alexander, Hamilton County Council
- JD Ford, Indiana State Senator
- Chad Gabbard, St. Vincent Sports Performance
- Josh Garrett, Zionsville Town Council
- Jake Gilbert, Westfield City Council-elect
- Matt Light, City of Noblesville
- Darren Peck, 50 Club
- Darren Peterson, Noblesville City Council
- Jack Russell, Cicero Town Council
- Dan Strong, Cicero Town Council
- Corey Richards, St. Vincent Sports Performance
- David Rayburn, Indiana University School of Medicine
- Aaron Smith, Noblesville City Council-elect
Photo provided
Fire Ops 101 was co-hosted and produced by Hamilton County Professional Fire Fighters Local 4416 and Carmel Professional Fire Fighters Local 4444. This year’s event was made possible with support from the Carmel Fire Department, Noblesville Fire Department, Westfield Fire Department, Fishers Fire Department, Cicero Fire Department, Jackson Fire Department, Craig Bowyer at Mid-America Fire and Safety, Jim Cedars at Fire Dex, IAFF Local 416 and off-duty professional fire fighters from Hamilton and Boone Counties.
Click here to watch a video from the event created by the Carmel Fire Department Public Information Officer Division.
About Local 4416
The Hamilton County Professional Fire Fighters Local 4416 represents more than 360 professional, career fire fighters and paramedics serving Cicero, Fishers, Jackson Township, Noblesville, Sheridan and Westfield. The association is headquartered in Noblesville and is an affiliate of the International Association of Fire Fighters and the Professional Fire Fighters Union of Indiana. Learn more at L4416.org.
Photo provided