Westfield firefighters respond to more than 2,200 fire and medical calls a year, and recently a group of Westfield businesses sent some of their employees to get a taste of what it takes to be a fireman.
During firefighters-for-a-day, citizens worked alongside the Westfield Fire Dept. and learned how to be a firefighter while responding to medical and fire emergencies.
WFD Spokesman John Barrett said their day started just like any firefighter’s with a readiness check of their equipment.
Once their equipment was set for the job, these employees mounted the 123-foot ladder and climbed to the top. After catching their breath, they made their way to a fire hose and tried their luck putting out a pretend fire.
“In the middle of all this, Westfield residents called 911 and needed their help. Firefighters, including these firefighter for-a-day candidates, jumped into action and helped with medical calls and fire alarms. All this before lunch,” he said.
After lunch, the candidates went from observing medical calls in the field to participating in medical calls during training. To top it all off, they geared up for firefighter survival and rescue training later in the afternoon.
“This is just a great opportunity for both local businesses and the fire department,” Barrett said. “We get to know our community better, and they get to see the hard work we do every day.”
