Wheeling Fire Department recruits Courtney Engle, foreground, and Christopher Peterson put their helmets on as they prepare to participate in a vehicle stabilization and extrication course outside Ace Garage in Fulton in July as part of the department’s training process. (Photo by Scott McCloskey)

WHEELING — One of the largest classes of new recruits with the Wheeling Fire Department in recent history is currently going through a rigorous eight-week indoctrination training process. Soon, they’ll be assigned to one of the department’s platoon shifts.

In addition to extensive classroom time, the class must endure eight weeks of extensive training. The group not only learns safety and awareness with various firefighting skills, but also builds confidence in an occupation that requires both mental and physical toughness.

Fire suppression, vehicle stabilization and extrication, hazmat training, emergency vehicle operation and driving, hose line operation and first aid are just a few of the many topics the class must train in before becoming the newest members of the Wheeling Fire Department. Wheeling Fire Chief Jim Blazier said some of the newest members will go on to EMS training for those who need it, while others are already EMT certified.

Blazier said most of the department’s recent recruit classes have consisted of fewer than six members. A large amount of recent retirements has pushed this class into double digits.

Potential firefighter candidates must first pass a written exam and physical ability test before his or her name is put on an eligibility list for the department. He said every fire department in the state of West Virginia must satisfy specific training requirements set forth by the state fire marshal’s office.

“The state fire marshal’s office has a minimum requirement for anybody to ride a fire apparatus in the state of West Virginia,” Blazier said. “You have to have Fire 1 training, which consists of being able to assemble your gear, using self contained breathing apparatus (SCBA), and part of that training is they have to have a ‘live burn’ training experience.”

He said the training escalates over an eight week span and concludes with the candidates training with a “live burn” at the department’s training tower on Wheeling Island under close supervision. He said this part of this process exposes them to working in a hot environment with low visibility.

Now four weeks into the training process, the recruits gathered in a lot next to Ace Garage Towing Service in Fulton last week to learn about vehicle stabilization and patient extrication. During the training session Capt. Chris Fabrizio provided demonstrations on how to safely use heavy duty emergency equipment like the Jaws of Life.

A day earlier, an exercise at the department headquarters in Center Market had each recruit familiarizing themselves with the self-contained breathing apparatus. Blazier said the SCBA serves as a “lifeline” for all firefighters, as it protects them from smoke and toxic gases.

“So confidence with this piece of equipment is of the utmost importance,” Blazier said.

In addition, Blazier said a lot of the training addresses fire suppression duties with an emphasis on safety and awareness.

Once the recruits complete the eight-week course they will become probationary firefighters and assigned to one of the department’s three rotating platoon shifts.