Burn Drill Prepares Firefighters for Real Thing

Members of the Ledyard Fire Company participated in an interior burn training exercise recently at the Mystic Oral School, hosted by the Old Mystic Fire Department. This training is required annually, and helps prepare firefighters for working to extinguish fires inside burning buildings amid extremely high temperatures.

"This was a great experience and an opportunity for both Old Mystic and Ledyard fire companies to see who they might be working with in the event of a mutual aid event in one town or the other," said Marcelo T. Ladia Jr., who provides information updates for the Ledyard company.

Members received training in search and rescue, rehabilitation, and above-grade and grade-level extinguishing. Ladia said temperatures in the interior fire simulator can approach 1,000 degrees, which he said is considerably hotter than firefighters would ever expect to encounter.

Ladia said three younger members who took part in the training demonstrated that they were "in the zone and able to get the job done as needed."

"The seasoned firefighters, as you would guess, were ready and willing to get behind their brothers to protect and serve, while keeping themselves safe along with the team," Ladia said.

The Ledyard Fire Company is seeking new volunteer members. The company conducts its monthly meeting on the first Thursday of every month. There will be a meeting at 7 p.m. tonight, Dec. 2, at the firehouse on Fairway Drive in Ledyard Center.

The Gales Ferry Fire Company also is welcoming new members. Gales Ferry will conduct its monthly meeting next Thursday, Dec. 9, at the firehouse.

These meetings are an excellent opportunity to meet volunteers and learn more about this vital public service