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Local officials receive training from Scott Fire Department

Posted at 6:42 AM, May 23, 2019
and last updated 2019-05-23 14:03:44-04

Local officials are feeling the heat after getting a glimpse into what it’s like to work as a firefighter.

Wednesday night, the Scott Fire Department hosted a training session to raise awareness of what it takes to stay protected.

Members of the Scott and Lafayette city councils, along with members of the Scott Fire Board, are getting a sense of what it takes to be a firefighter and what it costs.

A rescue maze simulated a residential fire.

“We tell them they’re in there for five to seven minutes. They come out, thinking they were in there half of a day. So, it was very educational and very rewarding to see that in their face, that they got something out of the training,” said Fire Chief Chad Sonnier.

Lafayette City-Parish Council member Liz Hebert says a lot goes into responding to a fire safely and effectively.

“It was definitely eye-opening. It was definitely very scary, very intense. It’s definitely a lot of communication, a lot of teamwork going into that room because you never know… No two situations are the same, so you always have to be prepared.”

The trainees wore the firefighters’ protective gear, which costs about $14,000 each.

“You’re looking at quite a bit of money per firefighter, so when we go ask them for that, we want them to understand that it’s for safety reasons. Because just like I told the mayor inside, these guys volunteer their time, not their lives,” said Chief Sonnier.

He hopes the training session shows people exactly where their tax money goes and why it’s so important to support your local fire department.