by Singh Hanna
The first-ever Citizens Fire Academy was just finished by the Ruston Fire Department. The purpose of this instructional program was to engage the community in the daily activities of Ruston’s emergency services.
Demonstrations, behind-the-scenes tours, and one-on-one conversations with the fire and emergency medical services were all part of the program. A unique and enlightening glimpse into what it means to serve and protect the community was given to the participants.
Through demonstrations of EMS and firefighting duties, the six-week training gave members of the general public a unique opportunity to experience what it’s like to be a firefighter. Additionally, the program collected insightful comments and input from community people regarding how the department may enhance its engagement and community service.
David Wells, the EMS Director for the Ruston Fire Department, was instrumental in planning and executing the event.
According to Wells, I considered the Citizen Academy to be a true success. The participants gave us very positive comments, and I believe the fire department members who contributed to its success also found it enjoyable. Everyone who participated learned something new and built relationships with members of the community we are honored to serve.
In addition to providing education, the Citizens Fire Academy aimed to foster communication between the public and first responders. In addition to learning bleeding control procedures, participants participated in hands-on exercises like car extraction, forceful entry, fire hose spraying, and even scaling the department’s tall ladder truck.
Stephanie Matthews, Executive Director of Christian Community Action, discussed her experiences attending the first class.
According to Matthews, I had a conversation with David Wells while he was developing the concept of an academy. He asked me to join the Ruston Citizens Fire Academy more than a year later. I found out that 4,500 of the 5,400 calls they receive year are ambulance calls. We learnt how to force entry, hose stream, halt bleeding, and intubate. Climbing the ladder truck was my favorite activity of all.
Participants were honored with a graduation ceremony, which included a spaghetti meal with the crew, at the conclusion of the six-week training program. Attending the occasion, Ruston Mayor Ronny Walker personally congratulated the attendees for interacting with the department. Even during the dinner, firefighters were summoned away in the middle of the celebration to respond to an emergency, demonstrating the unpredictable nature of emergency work.
“Seeing real-life emergencies and how they prioritize them meant a lot,” Matthews added. They genuinely want to serve and protect us all.
Many found the experience to be both personally interesting and instructive. Darbi Gonsoulin, the Ruston-Lincoln Chamber of Commerce’s Marketing and Communications Coordinator, talked about her experience enrolling in the program.
When I first joined up, this was a little uncomfortable for me, but as we went along, it swiftly turned into one of the most enjoyable and instructive experiences I’ve ever had, Gonsoulin said. I’ve been fascinated by firefighting since I was a young child. I thought it was absurd that individuals would voluntarily run into fires. I’ve always been curious about what they do.
After the training, each participant received a certificate, a picture with Fire Chief Chris Womack, and a greater respect for the commitment required to serve in emergency services. In the future, the department intends to create shorter, more focused courses for nearby businesses and groups in addition to offering the academy once a year.
Wells stated, “We hope to build upon this in the future.” Because of everyone’s involvement and input, the citizen academy was a success.
