Becoming a Member of Mt. Mitchell Volunteer Fire Department

I heard "The Call To Serve"

New Truck

Chief Barlow Congratulates me on my decision

to become a member of Mt. Mitchell Fire Department
After thinking about it for a while, I decided that with all of the different training activities that I had experienced and been a part of that it was a natural step to become a member of a local Volunteer Fire Department.

On April 20th, 2010 I put in my Application with Mount Mitchell Volunteer Fire Department. The Chief and several Captain's met and discussed my application and I was informed this week that I have been accepted as a member of that Fire Department. I will attend the next meeting on Monday May 17th to receive my Pager and be fitted for Turnout Gear.

Log of Hours on My Graduation Project

Hours working on Project - 30
Travel Hours - 10
Portfolio, Blog, and Presentation ~15
Miles Traveled ~325

Midland Water Rescue Team and Trailer

Chief Barlow took me to Midland, NC where the Cabarrus County Swiftwater Rescue Trailer is housed at Midland Fire Department. Chief Barlow and two of his Landis Fire Department members are part of the Cabarrus County Swiftwater Rescue Team. While checking out the Water Rescue Trailer and equipment, I also looked over the Mediun Duty Rescue Truck and the Jaws of Life. This apparatus is set up for many different types of Rescue. The Department also has a trailer set up for Large Animal Rescue as well.

Chief Barlow is on the far left

Click HERE for more Pictures of the Swiftwater Rescue Trailer

Midland Volunteer Fire and Rescue’s Water Rescue Team is contracted with Cabarrus County to be the provider of water rescue for Cabarrus County and is a Strike Team in Water Rescue for the State of North Carolina. The team was started and is operated under the Midland Volunteer Fire and Rescue Department. Due to the need and growth of the team, the following departments have signed a mutual aid agreement and currently work as part of the Midland Water Rescue Team, Allen Fire Department, Flowes Store Fire Department, Georgeville Fire Department and Odell Fire Department. Three members of the team are from Landis Fire Department including Chief Barlow.

In May of 1998 and in May of 2004 the Midland Water Rescue Team was awarded the International Higgins and Langley Memorial Award for Excellence in Swift Water Rescue.

Rimer Fire Department Night Live Burn Training

Click Here for photos of this burn

This was my second live burn. I got to see how every house is different so when you go to a structure fire every house is never the same so you have to just find your way around by training. We met the Concord Fire and Life Safety Recruit Class 16-6 at the live burn as well as Mt. Mitchell and Rimer firefighters for the this night training.

While at this training I was able to talk with Chief Preddy of Cold Water VFD and Captain Beck from Mt. Mitchell VFD about possibly joining one of these departments.

Cabarrus County Fire Safety Bowl

Click image to see pictures from the

Cabarrus County Fire and Life Safety Bowl

Every year in Cabarrus County North Carolina there is held a Fire and Life Safety Quiz Bowl. Elementery school students in fourth and fifth grades learn about the fire service as well as keeping safe in homes and public places. A book is provided to all fourth and fifth grades in the County. Coaches and teams are selected and prepared for the competition.

The Cabarrus County Fire Safety Quiz Bowl was held on March 25th 2010.

Chief Barlow and I attended and assisted as a Judge and runner.

We also assisted breaking down of tables and chairs after the competition was completed.

High Angle Rescue Training OSFM Special School

Click photo for more pictures

Click here for the NC High Angle Rescue Brochure

Video of NC High Angle Rescue School

The Office of the State Fire Marshal conducts two special schools in high angle rescue each year in North Carolina.

Chief Barlow and I attended the Spring High Angle Rescue School held at Stone Mountain State Park on March 27th, 2010.

I had no idea that this type of training was part of the Fire Service. So after Cheif Barlow and I had visited each of the stations, I had a better idea of how complex and detailed this type of rescue really is.

I was nervous at first but after we had been there for couple of hours I became more comfortable about climbing higher on the mountain.

My First Live Burn in Rimer Fire District

Click fire picture for photos

This was the first time in my life that I've been to a live burn and from this I have learned lots of new things about the Fire Service.

A Special Thanks to Rimer Fire Chief Earl Rahme for allowing Josh Elliott and Chief Barlow to observe the Live Burn Training on Saturday March 6th, 2010 to help with Josh's Graduation Project. Also in attendance from the CHS Fire Academy was Tabitha Beck who attended with her father who is a Captain with Mt. Mitchell Fire Department.
Fire Departments represented at the Training were:

Rimer

Mt. Mitchell
Jackson Park

Mt. Pleasant

Gold Hill

Bostian Heights

Instructors were from Concord Fire and Life Safety & Kannapolis Fire Department.

Received Red Cross CPR & First Aid Certification Cards

I took the Red Cross CPR and First AID in Mrs. Porter's class at Concord High School. This class led me to understand that the Fire Service provides an amazing amount of emergency medical care and gave me the confidence to assist with medical calls.

THE BEGINNING - My First Ride Along

Click the picture for more info. about Fire Station 3
I first took a "Ride - Along" with Concord Fire and Life Safety in November of 2009. I was "Hooked" from the moment I entered the station. These Guys were really just a bunch of Big Kids just like me. I arrived at the station at 8:00 am. After 45 min. we started getting stuff out of the tower so everyone could start working on the Job Performance Agility Test. That lasted about three hours so everyone could go through at least one time. When everyone finished we cleaned all the equipment that was brought out of the tower and made sure that the tower was locked up as well. We all went inside the station to eat lunch and then each of us took a shower.

Even though we did not have a single run that day, I knew that this is what I want to do for my life's work. Hopefully I can get on with a Fire Department to continue my interest.