OBSERVER Photo by Anthony Dolce Fredonia Fire Chief Josh Myers, kneeling, demonstrates how to properly hook up equipment to the Fredonia Fire Department.

Fredonia Fire Department held its annual bailout system equipment certification at the Turk Murphy Fire Training Center in Dunkirk this week. According to Fredonia Fire Chief Joshua Myers, every interior firefighter carries a bailout system on them, in case they get into trouble and have to come out a window.

“It’s a lifesaving measure for us as firefighters,” he said. “We have to continue training on it and continue to show that we’re proficient in case we need it.”

A bailout system includes a large metal hook that firefighters carry on them attached to a retracting rope, which would allow them to attach it to a window and descend down it should the need arise.

Myers said using the bailout system is a skill that they’ll lose over time if they don’t refresh it at least every year.

See TRAINING, Page A3

“This is a perishable skill,” said Myers. “And if we don’t continue to train on it, we’ll lose that skill set.”

As part of their training, Myers and the 13 other members of the Fredonia Fire Department in attendance practiced Wednesday donning the equipment, then practiced using the equipment out of the second- and third-story windows at the Training Grounds. Myers started with basics for everyone, as he described firefighting as a system of building blocks.

“We start from the bottom and if you don’t go over the basics, you’ll lose something or forget something,” he said. “So it’s nice to recap once per year from start to finish. Some guys are more advanced and it’s more of a refresher, and for some it’s dusting the cobwebs off.”

Myers has been an instructor in this course for about 13 years, and his ability to provide this training in house is valuable to the department. However, Myers is new to the Fredonia Department, only taking over as the new chief in late April. Myers said trainings like this give him and the rest of the crew a good opportunity to see each other in action.

“It’s great to see them perform and it’s good for them to see me perform,” said Myers. “It’s great for cohesiveness and morale and teamwork. Firefighting is all about teamwork so it’s nice to come and train together and have fun while we’re doing it.”