Three members of Nucla-Naturita Fire Department, which also serves Paradox, completed a fire academy training this summer hosted by Norwood Fire Protection District. Beverly Schmalz, Cody Jones and Erin Jones began the fire academy in January and are set to receive their Firefighter 1 certifications.
Classes took place every Thursday evening over the winter and spring, mostly at the fire station in Norwood. Traveling to Montrose was also part of the curriculum on certain Saturdays. Additionally, they completed a rope rescue practice off Norwood Hill, and they also did a few days of car extractions in Ridgway.
Classes scaled back a bit this summer, but included days to refresh for their final exams. Schmalz, Jones and Jones were all three EMS first-responders and volunteer firefighters already. Schmalz has a basic EMT certification. Jones and Jones frequently drive the ambulance.
While she joined the department in 2007, Schmalz told the Forum she’s never had official training until now. She said it’s something she really loves and finds intriguing.
In addition to Nucla’s three, the recent fire academy graduates included many from Norwood and one from Telluride too. Everyone passed their practical exam and written test, as of July 28.
For that, the state’s Division of Fire Prevention and Control (DFPC) brought a burn trailer, and set it up for simulated smoke and a spot for actual fire, so the candidates could feel the heat. Proctors from the DFPC administered and scored the test.
The candidates are all waiting to complete their HazMat class and written test, but Schmalz said they’ll get through that too. It’s supposed to happen in Telluride.
What’s changed for Schmalz? Nothing and everything. She’s still responding to calls, as she has the last 19 years. Though, she will actually be certified now, and the upgrade in knowledge is real.
“The training and knowledge has been amazing,” she said, agreeing that fire academy is making volunteers better at what they’re already doing.
“There’s so much we hadn’t gone over that the academy went over,” she said.
She personally loved studying the science of fire and fire dynamics. Search and rescue of structure fires was important to her too. Even more, she said she appreciated learning from Norwood Fire Chief John Bockrath.
“This opportunity was really amazing. Bockrath offered it to members of our department, free of charge,” she said. “It could have been $6,000 for us to go get this, and he offered it for free.”
Beyond the tuition savings, Schmalz said not having to pay travel costs, including lodging and food was big. The Nucla crew drove together for class in Norwood in the department’s brush truck over the winter. When summer came and the fire danger got real, they used personal vehicles.
And, the Norwood crew fed everyone. Schmalz said Nancy Wells, longtime volunteer, continued to make sandwiches, tamales and other dinners, something everyone was grateful for.
Bockrath’s sons also traveled to Wright’s Mesa to assist with some teaching.
“Think the biggest thing for me is how much I appreciate and thank Chief Bockrath for the opportunity and knowledge, and on top of that, the Norwood crew helped out, and the Telluride guys,” she said.
