Sequoyah Volunteer Fire Department is adding eight new firefighters to its lineup after the team recently completed 64 hours of training.
"The class teaches ropes and knots; introduction to fire, ladders, drags and carriers; hose advancement; basic fire extinguishing; drills; and scenarios," said Sequoyah Fire Chief Mike Brumlow. "We finished with a live burn."
Brumlow said his department is now equipped with 32 firefighters - 25 are state-certified and three are state instructors.
He said in the aftermath of the April 27 tornado, his department rotated providing relief for a few days each in Catoosa County, Braden, Tenn., and Bradley County. Sequoyah firefighters normally serve from Sequoyah Road to Cliff Eldridge Road and from Dallas Hollow Road to the Tennessee River.
"If anyone is interested in joining the department, we train Monday nights at 6 p.m. at Station 2 beside Sequoyah High School," said Brumlow.
Mowbray graduates three firefighters
Mowbray Fire Department is adding three new firefighters to its lineup, which now totals 20 firefighters.
"We graduated the first two women to go through our 64-hour firefighter training class," said Mowbray Fire Chief Jonathan Peterson. "That was awesome for us. New firefighters Chera Parsons and Sonia Roberts are also emergency medical technicians. Firefighter Cody Redden served for two years with us as a junior firefighter and he is now 18."
Peterson said all three new firefighter graduates have won service awards for tornado relief work performed in Bradley County.
He said since Jan. 1 Mowbray firefighters have responded to more than 100 calls, 60 percent of which were medical. The department covers 35 square miles from the foot of Mowbray Mountain to the Sequatchie County line.
Peterson said Mowbray firefighters train Tuesday nights at 6 p.m. The department always accepts applications from potential firefighters. He said the department is a small, relaxed, family environment.