Firefighters receive driving training

By Travis Fischer, tkfischer@charlescitypress.com

Charles City firefighters hit the road on Sunday, Sept. 15, as they went through an Emergency Vehicle Operations Course.

“We have some new firefighters that we want to get turned over to drive,” said Fire Chief Sam Deverell.

Paid for by the Volunteer Firefighter Training Fund, the firefighters will go through 12 to 16 hours of classes over a week-and-a-half along, with getting hands-on experience.

Coming from Johnston, training specialist Brandon Kooiker with the Iowa Fire Training Service Bureau spent the weekend, bringing along a virtual truck driving simulator for the firefighters to use.

“It’s basically a big video game,” said Kooiker

Featuring multiple screens and a seat that moves with the action, the firefighters drove around “Safety City,” a virtual training environment that simulates all manner of potential hazards, including icy roads, inattentive pedestrians and even other emergency vehicles.

“It gives us the ability to do a lot of higher risk driving scenarios,” said Kooiker.

The Fire Department will have access to the simulator throughout the week, giving firefighters the ability to get plenty of practice dealing with dangerous driving conditions from the safety of the fire station.

“Everybody did great,” said Kooiker. “They had fun.”

After training in the simulator, the firefighters got behind the wheel for real, taking turns driving around a course of cones set up at the former Kmart parking lot.

“Paul Rottinghaus was kind enough to let us use his parking lot,” said Deverell.

The firefighters practiced tight turns, backing up, parallel parking, and other challenging maneuvers that may come up with while on a call.

The class began last Thursday and will be completed on Sunday, increasing the Fire Department’s ability to make sure their engines get where they need to go.