Firefighters prepare for busy season
Goodman Area Fire Protection District firefighters have been busy training and building for the future.
The district is fortunate to be able to participate in training that is provided by the University of Missouri, said Jimmie Morgan, Goodman Area Fire Protection District Board chairman. In the past, firefighters have had to travel to various training sites; now, some of the training takes place in Goodman or the district hosts its own.
“We like to do our training in the winter, because sometimes we have free time, but this winter has been mild,” Morgan said.
Just last Saturday, firefighters participated in training for electrical emergencies hosted by the University of Missouri.
Firefighters recently learned more about fighting vehicle fires. Fire Chief Keith Estes coordinated a vehicle firefighting class with the University of Missouri Extension Fire & Rescue Training Institute (MUFRTI). The class, held in late February, provided firefighters with hands-on training when tackling a vehicle fire. The training took place on the Goodman City Hall parking lot. Several area fire departments were on hand for the training, including the Dade County Rural Fire Protection District, White Rock Fire Department, Seneca Area Fire Protection District, Duenweg Fire Department, Billings Fire Protection District and Goodman Area Fire Protection District. Bruce Bjorge of MUFRTI, firefighters with the Western Taney Fire Protection District and Rob Crawford of the Battlefield Fire Protection District instructed the class.
The department also hosted a 40-hour basic firefighter class, which was lead by Neosho Fire Department personnel Kyle Rogers, Roy Haskett and Scott Maness. Those who attended included the Dade County Fire Protection District, Seneca Area Fire Protection District, White Rock Fire Department and Goodman Area Fire Protection District.
Earlier this winter, Morgan, Keith Estes and Harvey Mayhan completed classes at the MU Fire and Rescue Training Institute’s Winter Fire School.
In addition to all the training, firemen have been building a Squad 1 truck, which has a 300-gallon water tank and 100 feet of 1-inch booster line.
The district has had an old Meeks Lumber Company truck for eight years. Morgan has taken a bed from a 1985 fire truck from the Seneca Fire Department and constructed that bed onto the old Meeks truck. The truck, when
complete, will house rescue equipment and help firemen when they are on a call for a car fire, medical needs or extrication.
Morgan said the truck is a newer model truck, which has air conditioning, and can help firefighters cool down if they’ve overheated while fighting a brush fire, he said.
The truck is nearly complete and Morgan has installed a new generator in the truck as one of the final steps. It is diesel powered and supplied to the district by the Missouri Department of Conservation Firefighter Property Program.
Firefighters have draft and hydro tested the truck, which
will soon be in service.