This Sunday morning, the Vista Fire Department held a Firefighter Skills Class along with a driver training session for members working toward qualification as Apparatus Drivers on Engine 141.

The “Firefighter Skills Class” focused on core Basic Exterior Firefighting Operations drawn directly from the Firefighter I take-home skill sheets that students are required to complete during the Firefighter I program. These skills included safely mounting and dismounting apparatus, deploying and operating portable generators and scene lighting, roadway incident scene management with traffic control devices, filling SCBA cylinders, and the cleaning, inspection, and maintenance of ground ladders and hand tools. This training not only equips our firefighters with the foundational knowledge needed for success in the Firefighter I program, but also helps those who have already completed Firefighter I to maintain and refine their skills.

The Driver Training program is how Vista Fire Department personnel are trained and cleared to operate Fire and EMS apparatus. Members complete several hours of "drive time" behind the wheel of each vehicle before being approved as drivers. The training includes an equipment overview of all apparatus and instruction on operating the pump panel for the fire engines. The program begins with members learning to operate Utility 256, followed by the ambulances, Engine 142, Engine 141, and Tanker 4.

For more information on how to become a member, call (914)-533-2727, email us at Info@VistaFD.org, visit https://www.vistafd.org/content/become/, or apply online here: https://www.vistafd.org/apply.