Colton and Loma Linda Fire Departments: Practice Makes Perfect

On the weekend of April 30th, the Loma Linda Fire Department along with the Colton Fire Department, conducted training. The training took place at a set of condemned houses and apartments that have sat abandoned for approximately a year. As part of the fire departments vocational training, the two departments used the roof of one of the abandoned houses. The purpose of the training was to practice ventilating a roof. Picks and chain saws were used to cut holes in the roof. Each of the seven men took turns going up the ladder one man at a time. All of this was in preparation of the tearing down of the six apartments and house by the end of May. The Colton Fire Department train on a weekly, monthly, semi-annual and annual basis in order to make sure that they are prepared to protect the public and perform their jobs safely and efficiently. Training repetition also increase the firefighters ability to work as a team. The Training Division of the Colton Fire Department work hard to exceed the minimum standards for training established by federal, state, and local authorities. The Batalion Chief conducts in-depth monthly multi-company drills to promote teamwork and consistency among all companies. Semi-Annual Company Performance Standard (CPS) tests that consist of multiple tasks that each company must complete in a set amount of time with minimal or no errors are also conducted every May and November.