State Firefighters Sharpen Skills Under OSU's Continuing Training

More than a hundred firefighters from across Oklahoma spent their weekend training in Bartlesville.

They have been spending the majority of the weekend learning how to save lives, including extricating people from vehicles after they've had a wreck.

"This class is very important to us," firefighter Max Wolters said.

Wolters is a volunteer firefighter with Northwest Rogers County Fire District.

He and other firefighters from more than 40 stations across Oklahoma are working to keep their skills sharp.

"The main thing is train, train, train," Woters said.

Firefighters are spent the weekend all over Bartlesville under the instruction of Oklahoma State University's Fire Service Training program.

The weekend course is free to all firefighters in the state.

"This is a good group, small group, but I tell you what, they're rip-roaring and ready to go," instructor Gary Baustert said.

Baustert is teaching firefighters how to use hand tools to pull a victim out of a crushed car.

Firefighters are learning to cut into cars and remove people safely and to also watch out for side curtain airbags, which are designed to keep you safe when you get into a wreck, but if you cut into one that hasn't deployed, it could go off like a bomb.

As a retired fire chief, Baustert enjoys teaching the new generation of firefighters coming through the course.

He says they're eager to learn and benefit from weekend program.

"They way I look at it is... what's a few dollars for training?" Baustert said. "Or a firefighter hurt? Or a victim in a motor vehicle accident hurt again because we didn't do something properly without the proper training?"

In two weeks, the weekend course will move down the road to Afton, and if you're interested there are still open positions for firefighters.

You can call 1-800-304-5727 or visit the Oklahoma State University's Fire Service Training web site at Osufst.org