By William Lambert
UCONN.edu
STORRS, Conn. — A handful of UConn students are learning professional firefighting skills while helping out in the community as volunteers with the Mansfield Fire Department.
“Volunteer firefighters find themselves in a position to do really remarkable things,” says Mansfield Fire Chief Dave Dagon, who has led the department for 10 years since coming out of retirement from his previous stint at the same post in East Hartford. “It’s a heck of an experience here.”
He says volunteers need discipline if they are to complete the training required to earn a uniform, especially if they are also full-time students. To become certified members of the department, volunteers-in-training have to complete various courses, and learn how to don firefighter’s gear, use a fire hose, and rescue victims.
Full story: Volunteer Firefighters Learn Professional Skills While Helping Out in the Community