Practice Makes Perfect – Firefighters Going To School

The best kind of training is training that most closely mirrors real life circumstances.

The Yakima and West Valley Fire Departments are looking forward to unique training opportunities later this year in light of school demolitions scheduled in the for the West Valley School District.

Apple Valley and Summitview elementary school buildings are coming down later this fall to make room for new schools which will give the firefighters a couple of months and a couple of big building in which to practice.

"We appreciate the West Valley School District's partnership in granting first responders these training opportunities," said Yakima Fire Chief Aaron Markham. "These live exercises will help YFD's firefighters practice crucial life-saving skills.”

Trainings will include large area searches, extending a charged hose line into a building for long distances, firefighter situational awareness, self-rescue drills and evacuating smoke from a building.

The Apple Valley Elementary School building is located at 7 North 88th Avenue. The Summiview Elementary School building is located at 6305 West Chestnut Avenue.

Heads up to neighbors, it's non-toxic smoke for practice.