Columbus firefighters dive into swift water rescues

Columbus Volunteer Fire Department (CVFD) firefighters completed swift water training for water rescues in August on the Guadalupe River in New Braunfels.

Nine firefighters received the Flood and Swiftwater Technician Rescue 1 (FAST-R1) certification from Rescue Training International after two and half days and one night of training from Aug. 8-10. Three of the nine and two others renewed completed the next level, FAST-R2, after two days and two nights of training from Aug. 22-24. Captain Anna Schultz shared that the department regularly participates in optional training.

“Lives are on the line, and I would like to know what I’m doing,” Schultz said. “A lot of it is common sense…but if there’s an easier and a better way to do it that you didn’t think about, that’s what a lot of this training is.”

Both optional FAST training courses covered background, equipment, approaches and technical skills for flood and swift water rescues. FAST-R2 expands on the first course with larger- scale disasters, search management and functions, advanced equipment and nighttime searches. Personnel from other departments including Keene Fire and Rescue and Harris County also participated in the training.

“We’ve had multiple people go to the swift water training in the years past, being that we have the river flowing through Columbus and then also [Hurricane] Harvey,” Schultz said. “We have a rescue boat, so we’d like to have people trained to operate the boat and what to do in those emergencies.”

CVFD dedicates the second and fourth Mondays of each month to training. During those days, the department will complete any required training or engage in additional training. Some additional training, like FAST, does require time outside of the designated Mondays. Schultz said that firefighters who receive optional training will often share their knowledge with the rest of the department upon their return. Schultz also said firefighters have mixed opinions on optional, additional training.

“There’s a lot of the older generation in the department that feel that on-thejob training is sufficient,” Schultz said. “[From] my younger standpoint, I feel like it’s better to have people that train in a non-emergency environment, so we have the calm, collected side of it.”

Schultz explained how being a volunteer firefighter and doing optional training requires commitment for a lot of time off work. She said that additional training may require someone to utilize all of their vacation hours at work.

CVFD also recently completed the Emergency Vehicle Operator Course, which covers utilizing and maneuvering fire trucks, in August. Future training for this year will focus on rescue operations, ventilation practices, a live fire exercise and fire protection systems.