ANDOVER, Minn. – (May 28, 2015) – Throughout Anoka County, there are 33 different fire stations. Each of these stations needs qualified and trained people to respond to fires and emergencies around the clock. Starting in 2012, departments in Anoka County began working together on training their new recruits.
The method saves money, saves time, and guarantees that these new firefighters are all receiving the same training. This week the Anoka County Fire Training Academy graduated their 6th class. Harlan Lundstrom, Assistant Director of the Fire Academy has been a part of the Academy from the beginning.
“I can’t believe we’re starting class seven because it seems like just the other month we started class one,” said Lundstrom.
The Anoka County Fire Training Academy has been training the county’s newest firefighters for nearly 3 years, starting a new class about every six months. Prior to that, departments were left with finding their own training, or sending their new recruits to technical college programs. Lundstrom said they have found benefits of training together.
“By doing it within the county, because we do a lot of mutual aid together and working together it helps then training together so we can start to get to know each other and so that way when you go to the scene, maybe you were in class together or something like that,” he said.
This is class six of the training academy. Twenty-seven recruits ranging in age from 18 up to their 50s trained together. Lundstrom explained that they will branch out and work with seven different fire departments in the county.
“Centennial Fire got a grant, a federal grant and it’s covering all of the training for the academy. It also provides and gear for every student that completes the academy. It also covers their physicals, their psychological evaluations and the grant I think goes one more year. So really the training that’s happened for all these classes, it’s been free to Fire Departments,” he said.
So, what once cost about $4,000-$5,000 per recruit has been free for Anoka County Fire Departments working with the academy.
“Its just huge because all those fire departments are not having to pay for all that training and all that gear so it’s cost savings to the cities. when the grant runs out they’re going to have to start budgeting all that money again to train and buy gear and all of that,” Lundstrom said.
In the academy, students learn about the history of the fire service, local government structure, CPR, AED use, infectious diseases, ropes, knots, building searches, and hazardous materials all while learning about fire and fire suppression. Usually, these students are working full time say jobs as well.
“The academy classes run usually six to seven months long, they’re meeting twice a week, some Saturdays throughout their academy class, and then once they get done here most of them will go into EMS training then, so that’s another three months of training that they go through, so probably a good year before they’re really fully trained,” Lundstrom said.
As a part of their classes, they also pass state firefighter exams and a hazmat certification test.
“It’s a huge commitment, a huge commitment on the family’s part and I think a lot of people don’t realize that. You end up missing birthday parties, Christmas, Thanksgiving, you don’t get plan when people need you and so you have to go when they call,” Lundstrom explained.
After completing their training, the academy holds a graduation to celebrate the accomplishments of all the new recruits. Fire Academy Director, Jerry Streich, spoke at the graduation.
“Anoka County Training Academy has one of the highest graduating rates in the entire state of Minnesota, even amongst colleges,” Streich said.
Surrounded by friends and family, along with their new colleagues and chiefs, these firefighters received advice from many who have been in the line of work for decades like one of their instructors, Tim Gilsrud.
“The torch that was given to us three and the other firefighters in the room as we became fire fighters are now being given to you and you are our future, you have to take the fire service and make it yours. Learn from us but carry that tradition forward,” Gilsrud said.
And they will move forward into their new departments.
“These guys have now completed 170 some hours of training. Again they’ve been very committed they’ve only been able to miss a few classes over the last six months, just their families and their commitment and sacrifice. I think it’s just huge the sacrifice people make to get on a fire department,” Lundstrom said.
Students from this class will be joining departments in Andover, Coon Rapids, East Bethel, Fridley, Ham Lake, Lexington and Oak Grove.
