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 Utility 256 and our ambulances.

The “Firefighter Skills Class” focused on Building Construction and why it is critical for firefighters to understand how structures are built, supported, and fail under fire conditions. Firefighters learn this material because every fire behaves differently depending on the type of construction — lightweight truss systems can fail rapidly, legacy construction can hide fire within void spaces, and modern materials can burn hotter and collapse sooner than expected. Understanding these differences allows crews to predict fire spread, identify collapse hazards, choose proper ventilation tactics, and operate safely inside and around structures. 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.