On Saturday, January 25th, the CTEC Firefighter program joined Louisa County High School and the Piedmont Regional Fire Academy in a combined training event, the Firefighter I structural burn, on their way to certification. The CTEC EMT Program was on hand to take the vitals of all participants to ensure everyone was healthy to continue in their training.
A Firefighter I structural training burn is a critical component of the certification process for aspiring firefighters. This training exercise provides a controlled, hands-on experience to develop and demonstrate the skills necessary for responding to real-life structural fires. During a training burn, participants engage in scenarios designed to replicate the conditions of an actual building fire, including high heat, heavy smoke, and zero visibility. Under the guidance of certified instructors, firefighters learn and practice essential techniques such as fire suppression, ventilation, search and rescue, and teamwork under stressful conditions.
The training burn is conducted in compliance with strict safety guidelines and standards, such as those outlined by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) and the Virginia Department of Fire Programs (VDFP). These controlled burns typically occur in specially designed training facilities or acquired structures that meet safety criteria. The purpose of this exercise is to prepare firefighters for the challenges they will face in the field, ensuring they are equipped to protect lives and property safely and effectively. For public awareness, it is important to note that training burns are carefully planned, supervised, and executed to minimize risk to participants and the surrounding community.
Reflecting on the progress made by the recruits over the past several months, Jr. Perryman, President of the Culpeper County Volunteer Fire and Rescue Association, expressed his pride: “In five short months, it has been an amazing journey for our high school recruits. I have witnessed growth in knowledge, physical abilities, and confidence. Their sacrifices made as young adults—putting in extra time for training on evenings and weekends to prepare themselves—are evident in every training evolution they have performed in class and on the training grounds. Their fire department families look forward to their continued growth as volunteers and for those who choose to become career firefighters. Their maturity, their genuine respect for others, and their desire to make those having a bad day just a little better give much hope for these young men who will fill our shoes in the years to come. We are very proud of each one of you!”
A special thank you to Louisa County Fire and Rescue for the use of their training facility, Culpeper County Volunteer Fire & Rescue Association, Holly Grove Volunteer Rescue Squad, and Culpeper County Volunteer Rescue Squad.
Participating Organizations:
Culpeper County Volunteer Fire & Rescue Association, Inc.
Culpeper County Volunteer Fire Department
Culpeper County Volunteer Rescue Squad
Brandy Station Volunteer Fire Department
Richardsville Volunteer Fire Department and Rescue Squad
Reva Volunteer Fire & Rescue
Little Fork Volunteer Fire and Rescue Co.
Salem Volunteer Fire Department
Rapidan Volunteer Fire Department, Inc.
Louisa County Department of Fire/EMS
Holly Grove Volunteer Rescue Squad
Mineral Volunteer Fire Department
Bumpass Volunteer Fire Department
Louisa County Public Schools
