| Yesterday, Saturday, March 31, 2007, two of our members from Huntingtown VFD participated in a state-wide firefighting competition in Baltimore, MD. Ty Lester and Rick Grierson have both been members for three years now and are students in the Calvert County High School cadet program. Students in this curriculum leave school early every day their senior year and take the pertinent training they will need in the fire service (FFI, FFII, EMT-B, Rescue-Tech, Haz-Mat Ops, NIMS, Engine Company Ops, Bldg Construction, etc).
Months ago, it became evident that in the entire Southern MD region (Calvert, Charles, St. Mary's) that not only one but two Calvert County members held the highest grades overall in all classes. Low and behold, they both are Huntingtown members; Ty Lester and Rick Grierson. They were invited to attend a state-wide competition yesterday in Baltimore, MD held by "Skills USA." This organization serves students attempting to make a career in their education.
Yesterday, at the state competition, Ty and Rick competed against several other firefighters. They were tested on time it took don their gear and SCBA, ladder deployment, ropes and knots, and finally an intensive written test. The student with the overall highest score, would win first place. Late yesterday evening, Ty received word that he had in fact, won first place.
Because of this, he is now going to the National Competition held in Kansas City, Missouri from June 26-29, 2007 and will compete against firefighters from across the nation. Congratulations to both Ty and Rick.
On a side-note, Rick is currently going through the process of becoming a career firefighter locally. However, for some unknown reason, Ty is following his dream of becoming a wildland firefighter in the Mid-West. We are trying to talk some sense into him and make him realize that there is no better place than Huntingtown.......We'll see how it goes.
For more information on the Skills USA competition: http://www.skillsusa.org/events/nlsc.shtml |
