Daddy a Fidey Fighdo

Columiba Fire Department

I recently completed my second week of training at the South Carolina Fire Academy, and it was no joke.

Thirty recruits started training to acquire our first certifications in Emergency Medical Response (EMR) and Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR).  We were given two attempts to achieve a minimum of eighty percent to continue on to the next certification in Hazardous Materials (HAZMAT) Awareness.  Unfortunately, two members of the recruit class could not achieve the percentage needed to continue in the Academy. It was a bitter-sweet end to the second week of training.

From January 11th - January 19th we read the EMR text and tested in EMR, CPR, and Applied Skills. On January 20th we reviewed Chapters 1-3 in our Fourth Edition - Hazardous Materials for First Responders text and proceeded to test on that material. Fortunately the remaining twenty eight recruits passed with the minimum seventy percent or more standard.

South Carolina Fire Academy

We are now starting into our Fifth Edition - Essentials of Fire Fighting text. The pace at which we are working was described as hitting the ground running. Which could be an understatement seeing as we are required to read the first five chapters (230 pages) and do the Essentials of Firefighting Study Guide (68 pages).

After a year of Midnight Shifts (10pm-4am) at United Parcel Service, it was quite the experience to readjust my sleeping habits. Recruits arrive at the facility at 7am to march to breakfast and then proceed to Physical Training (my area of expertise). After physical training we hit the classroom with five to ten minute breaks on the hour.  We march to lunch at 12pm and march back to our classroom to hit the books at 1pm. I've never been one for school, so I'm re-learning how to 'hit the books' when I arrive at home at about 6-7pm.


I had enough time to hang out with my girls, Nicole and Ava, last weekend on a fun filled Saturday. Ava proudly states,"daddy a fidey fighdo" or daddy is a fire fighter for those of you who don't speak two year old. Ava is truly being a trooper with all the changes going on around her. She has been heading to several awesome sitters that absolutely adore her. Our family could not function without the help of these magnificent ladies and families that we are proud to call our friends. Thanks to you all (you know who you are).

I also managed to make it to the mountain for some much needed stress relief last Sunday.  I read my text book on the way to Crowders Mountain State Park, had a blast climbing and as soon as we hiked down the mountain I hit the books for the car ride home.

Rumbling Bald, North Carolina

I am currently writing this while taking a break from reading (I just finished chapter 2 after hitting the books at 12pm).  Alas, it may rain tomorrow but I am still going to try and get some climbing in at Rumbling Bald, North Carolina.  Hopefully, the big guy in the sky will allow it. If not, we'll probably head to ClimbMax Climbing Gym in Ashville or a bar nearby to have some drinks.  Some form of stress relief is better than no stress relief :-)

Anyway, time to hit the books again. In the words of a good friend of mine, "Raining rhymes with Training" so get to it!