MONROE - More than 1,000 firefighters from 350 departments in Wisconsin, Iowa and Illinois gathered in Monroe over the weekend for the 73rd annual fire school.
Monroe has been the host city for the event for 50 years.
The fire school enabled firefighters throughout the region to gain hands-on experience with auto extraction, firefighting tactics, base skills, pump operations, farm extraction, and rope and technical rescues, as well as offering EMS courses for EMTs and leadership classes.
"Some of the training is physical and some of it's mental," Albany firefighter John Kivikoski said.
The fire school is a good chance for firefighters from across the region to meet other firefighters, as well.
During a large fire, several departments are often called for assistance. The firefighters and chiefs know each other and work with each other at the scene. At the school, they can work with each other during a controlled emergency setting.
The training provides firefighters a chance to learn something new that they can share with their colleagues, Mineral Point firefighter Mike Lynch said.
"This is a great thing to have. You take the training here and then take it back to your department," he said.
Orangeville Fire Chief Mel Weichman said firefighters benefit from having a school so close.
"This is one of the best schools we can go to," he said.
Weichman said the school teaches firefighters how to handle situations they might not see very often, but scenarios that are always possible.
The Southern Wisconsin and Northern Illinois Fire/Rescue Association's first fire school was held on Sept. 10, 1937 in New Glarus. For the next 23 years the fire school was hosted by different fire departments throughout Wisconsin and Illinois.
Monroe has been the host city for the event for 50 years.
The fire school enabled firefighters throughout the region to gain hands-on experience with auto extraction, firefighting tactics, base skills, pump operations, farm extraction, and rope and technical rescues, as well as offering EMS courses for EMTs and leadership classes.
"Some of the training is physical and some of it's mental," Albany firefighter John Kivikoski said.
The fire school is a good chance for firefighters from across the region to meet other firefighters, as well.
During a large fire, several departments are often called for assistance. The firefighters and chiefs know each other and work with each other at the scene. At the school, they can work with each other during a controlled emergency setting.
The training provides firefighters a chance to learn something new that they can share with their colleagues, Mineral Point firefighter Mike Lynch said.
"This is a great thing to have. You take the training here and then take it back to your department," he said.
Orangeville Fire Chief Mel Weichman said firefighters benefit from having a school so close.
"This is one of the best schools we can go to," he said.
Weichman said the school teaches firefighters how to handle situations they might not see very often, but scenarios that are always possible.
The Southern Wisconsin and Northern Illinois Fire/Rescue Association's first fire school was held on Sept. 10, 1937 in New Glarus. For the next 23 years the fire school was hosted by different fire departments throughout Wisconsin and Illinois.