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Thanks Essex Fire Protection District

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Fire-Rescue-EMS Students took a field trip to Essex Fire Protection District in rural Essex Township.  Students seemed to grasp the dedication and commitment made by volunteer firefighters who typically respond from home or work to to answer emergency calls at all hours of the day or night, for little to no pay.

Chief Austin Vining, along with Assistant Chief Denny Meyer, Captain/EMT Ben Serena and Lieutenant/Chief Engineer Marty Kirchner were on hand to talk to students and explain the requirements and responsibilities involved in becoming a member of a volunteer fire department.  They were very receptive to students' questions about a variety of issues pertaining to training, education, response times and, fund-raising.

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Students were provided a tour of their facilities.  Showcased during the tour were their apparatus, including a fire engine which uses a compressed air foam system (in addition to water) to extinguish fires.  This relatively new firefighting technology allows rural fire departments (that have to truck water to a fire because they don't have fire hydrants), the benefit of a quicker fire knockdown. With this technology, less water is used and the  foam actually penetrates what's burning more effectively than using plain water. 

As a part of fulfilling our motto Preparing Students for Tomorrow, KACC strives to expose all students, in all curriculum areas, to technologies like this which they will be encountering when they enter any given profession so they are better prepared.