Training firefighters for such work is the job of the Pueblo West Volunteer Fire Department's officers.

Under the direction of Fire Chief Brian Caserta, Capt. Danny Gowin runs the newly instituted Fire Academy 80-hour training classes for rookies.

"I am very pleased with Captain Gowin and his many assistants in their efforts with this training," Caserta said.

After completion of the training, rookie firefighters join one of department's four teams of firefighters where they can start responding to emergencies, which is known as "running on calls."

The Fire Academy training is designed so that when the new people go to a team, they have the basics: how to put a vehicle in pump, how to pull hose, and how to put on gear, said Gowin.

Captains Danny Gowin (left) and Steve Dunn of the Pueblo West Volunteer Fire Department take turns gearing up to take rookies through fire suppression techniques.

"After they go to teams, officers continue to work with them on basics, but they get advanced training also."

Department-wide training continues for all firefighters at least three Monday evenings out of the month.

In addition, firefighters must take a first responder class and become certified to handle basic medical emergencies within the first year of being on the department.

Many firefighters go beyond that level of training to become basic or intermediate emergency medical technicians (EMTs), or paramedics.

In the recent past, new Pueblo West fire department volunteers received most of their fire training solely from team officers because only a few applicants were hired at a time, based on openings that became available.

"Before (academy training), we used to get a physical, get our gear, and go directly to a team. Training may have taken up to six months, learning from team officers, whereas now it takes only about two and a half months," Gowin said.

The first members of the department to go through the academy training included eight recently signed volunteers and three medically trained members who have been running on calls since early in 2002.

According to the academy graduates, the 80 hours of training challenged them in different ways.

For EMT Amy Huber, the main challenge was, "wrestling that two-and-a-half-inch hose 'fully charged' through the (training) trailer."

Keeping low to avoid smoke and heat, rookie firefighters Dena McIntyre and Dave Stephan (No.12) kneel with a 1 1/2-inch fire hose as their instructor Captain Danny Gowin coaches them on how to attack a fire.

Working with a charged or pressurized two-and-a-half-inch hose is a lot like bundling seven regular garden hoses together, and filling them with wet cement.

Firefighters may be called upon to move these stiff hoses around in a house full of furniture.

"For me, the toughest part of the training was getting used to the awkwardness of the SCBA (self contained breathing apparatus) and the (fire protection) gear and moving around with it," said rookie firefighter Albert Hernandez, "but I'm a lot more comfortable with it now."

Rookie Jason Vigil found training in a dark, smoke-filled room to be "kinda scary at first. The first time in was like, 'Whoa!'"

And Dave Stephan found his greatest challenge in "trying to remember all the information - what's on what truck, how many feet of hose each vehicle has, etc."

According to Gowin, working as a volunteer firefighter is not for everyone.

"You have to have a lot of time on your hands. You have to have family members who are supportive. And you have to be dedicated. If you are not dedicated, it's not really worthwhile," he said.

For the recent academy graduates, that dedication is already manifesting itself.

"I joined the department because this (Pueblo West) is my home, and I want to make my home as safe as possible. This is my way of making it a good community to live in," Hernandez said, echoing the sentiments of many volunteer firefighters.

"At the risk of sounding like Beaver Cleaver's mom, I believe in people helping people," rookie Dena McIntyre said in explaining why she decided to become a member of the department

Academy graduate Shane Eddy agreed, adding, "I looked at other ways to help out in the community, like being a police officer, but this was a better fit for me."

For these and the other members of the academy class - paramedic Terry Bitterlich, EMT Josh Johnson, first responder Scott Valentine, and firefighter Vince Johnson - the Pueblo West Fire Department's training has just begun.

As Caserta said, "The fire academy is just one piece of an on-going training program we use to maintain a highly trained and professional staff."

Editor's note: Writer and photographer Lori Hoeck is a volunteer firefighter and basic who has been a member of the Pueblo West Fire Department for 8 months.

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