Heroes Among Us — The Newnan Times-Herald — 17
HEROES 2023
CCFR Explorer program creates future firefighters and more BY CLAY NEELY Workforce recruitment is a crucial issue for most industries, including public safety. For decades, Coweta County Fire Rescue has prioritized the development of local talent to help bolster its ranks. C owet a C ounty Fire Ex plorers Post 700 provides high school students ages 14-17 a challenging educational opportunity to learn more about Fire/ EMS and see if a career in the field is right for them. At Station 1, Creighton Smith, Dawson Hughes and Ian Bango are the th ree latest graduates of the Explorer program and have joined Coweta County FIre Rescue. Sitting in the office of Chief Robby Flanagan, they said the program went beyond their expectations in helping them choose a career in public safety. The course teaches students about f i re s uppre s sion/ ho s e adv a nc e ment, sea rch a nd rescue, forcible entry, crash victim extrication, fire ground hydraulics, physical training and EMS. However, an emphasis on leadership and accountability ensures students are prepared for life beyond the fire station. “It’s not just for people who want to do f ire ser v ice,” Hug hes sa id. “Some might join the militar y or police, but they all want to (participate in the Explorers program) because they learn about leadership and responsibility.” All potential Explorers must earn their way into the program. Each candidate must attend four meetings without being tardy, show engagement and demonstrate an ability to effectively communicate. If those criteria are met and the application process is completed, the new recruit will take home old firefighting gear that has aged out.
PHOTO BY CLAY NEELY
Ian Bango, Dawson Hughes and Creighton Smith are the three latest graduates of the Coweta County Fire Rescue Explorer program. While students learn the basics of firefighting and rescue operations, they also learn the importance of self-reliance, teamwork, and accountability.
At home, Explorers are required to ma int a in their gea r. They a re encouraged to physically work out with their new equipment and take full responsibility for its upkeep. “If your gear gets messed up, you have to go through a chain of command,” Hughes said. “It helps you understand what it means to take
full responsibility for your stuff. It’s not something your parents can fix.”
Everything but fighting fires Explorers meet after school at Station 9 every Thursday. From 4:30-9 p.m., they absorb everything, learn-
ing the physical and mental requirements to become exceptional firefighter EMTs. For physical training, Explorers wear full gear. They stretch and do jumping jacks before getting down to the hard stuff like f lipping and
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