(Le Mars) — Nearly every Wednesday evening, members of the Le Mars Fire and Rescue Department gather for approximately two and a half hours of concentrated training. Whether it is ripping open abandoned wrecked vehicles, or performing
a rescue from a top of a building or another structure, performing a simulated rescue scenario involving hazardous materials, or training for a grain bin
suffocation or a trench collapse, the 32 members do more than fight fires.
Chief Dave Schipper says the state requires the fire and rescue members to perform a certain amount of hours of training. But, Schipper says Le Mars is a growing community, and the people need to know their fire and rescue department
not only be prepared for an unknown emergency, but that they can handle the emergency situation.
Schipper says the fire and rescue department practices, not to do it right, but to make certain, they don’t do it wrong.
The members of the Le Mars Fire and Rescue Department knows to volunteer, means a great time commitment away from families and careers. The Le Mars Fire and Rescue Chief says the amount of training necessary dictates that the members
meet more than once a month.
Schipper says each of the members have their special niche for different types of rescues and emergency scenarios.
Volunteering for the fire and rescue department can be stressful. So how does the Le Mars Fire and Rescue Department deal with the stress associated with the position? Schipper says many times, the members will discuss the situation, and simply talk things out, as a way of dealing with the stress.
