Firefighter Bill Matthias cuts through a roof in a ventilation drill on Saturday morning.

LAFOLLETTE, TN (WLAF) – Since mid-June, the La Follette Fire Department has been putting new firefighters through the paces in its first recruiting class. “This is a 300-hour class, and it runs through September,” said Training Officer Shawn McGlone. See Charlie Hutson’s photo gallery HERE.

McGlone said the three-month class covers hazmat, rescue along with rope rescue and extrication.

Fire Instructor Joey Gilbert directed the Saturday classes that ran from 8am until 6pm. Veterans Gilbert and McGlone are teaching the class.

Firefighter Nathanial “Red” Vannorstran crawls through one of the entanglement props.

Saturday morning at Fire Station 2, next to DeRoyal, the ventilation and search and rescue part of the class was carried out.

Firefighter Jessica Claiborne slams an axe into a roof for ventilation as Firefighter Bill Mattias supports her efforts as Fire Instructor Joey Gilbert (left) looks on.

Last Friday, firefighters studied search patterns. The hands-on portion of search patterns was performed on Saturday at Fire Station 1 on South Tennessee Avenue.

The recruiting class listens as Fire Instructor Joey Gilbert (top left) talks after the ventilation drill.

“There’s some classroom plus skills for each class with each having a hands-on segment,” said McGlone. Coming up this Saturday will be hose deployments and hose lays.

Previous classes include forcible entry and communications. (WLAF NEWS PUBLISHED – 07/13/2021-6AM-PHOTOS COURTESY OF WLAF’S CHARLIE HUTSON)

2 Replies to “LFD has first recruiting class for new firefighters”

  1. Congratulations Bill and Eric. Lafollette Fire Department has gained two great firefighters. We a proud of you ⚜️

  2. Congratulations Bill and Eric. Lafollette Fire Department has gained two great firefighters. We are proud of you ⚜️

Comments are closed.