Local government leaders learn what it takes to become a firefighter

GREEN BAY, Wis. (WBAY) – An event took place on Sunday during which local government officials had the opportunity to see what it’s like to be a firefighter or rescuer.

Selected officials had the opportunity to practice handling emergency calls as part of the Fire Ops 101 course taught at Northeast Technical College.

Being a lifeguard comes with a lot more responsibility than you might think.

“Everybody knows we go to the fire department and EMS comes by ambulance, but we offer a wide range of services to our city,” said Jake Plennes, an engineer with the Green Bay Metro Fire Department.

For example, pulling people out of cars, risking their own lives to save others, and much more.

However, when saving lives is at stake, especially during a fire, every second counts.

The faster a firefighter can locate a person and free them from a burning building, the greater the likelihood of a positive outcome.

Research conducted as part of The First 3000 study indicates that if a victim is found and rescued in less than 10 minutes, the probability of survival is greater than 50%.

To do this, rescuers must be notified, travel to your location, understand the building layout, and navigate the unfamiliar building to get you to safety.

After reviewing this information, many government officials said they had benefited greatly from the experience.

“We think of the fire department as just putting out fires. They don’t just put out fires. They do a lot more than that. And the teamwork is something I love to see here. You know, one guy does one thing and one guy does another, and they just outdo each other,” said Kathy Hinkfuss, alderwoman for Ward 12.

“The trust that people have in us is something that we try to maintain,” Plennes said. “That trust from the public is built up over years and years. And one mistake can destroy that. That’s why we say that we make over 17,000 calls a year, error-free.”

While this was an opportunity to understand what first responders do in the event of an accident, everyone had fun learning what it takes to keep the community safe.