Ready, set, go… Pants, boots, gloves, coat, protective hood, helmet, self-breathing apparatus - in two minutes or less.

Getting on their gear properly and efficiently is just one of many skills every f i refighter must conquer. Well on their way to mastering that skill, Kingfisher High School seniors Gant Browning and Hayden Cypert have been learning and practicing various firefighting tasks as part of a class offered through a partnership of KHS and the Kingfisher Fire Department.

In its second year, the program led by KFD Lt. Mitch Tollefson offers students the oppor- vice…possibly the Marines or another branch of military service,” Cypert added. In addition to learning how to get their firefighting gear on properly and efficiently, Browning and Cypert said they’ve been learning fire extinguishing techniques, proper ways to tie knots, the importance of strong communication, various types of building construction and fire dynamics. “It’s been a great partnership (with KPS) and it’s really a win-win situation,” Stewart said. Even if the students end up choosing another career, they will still have gained life skills, understanding of teamwork and being a part of something productive that’s bigger than yourself, Stewart commented. Lauding Tollefson’s efforts, Stewart said, “He enthusiastically jumped on the opportunity to teach the class and is doing an excellent job. “He enjoys the training, the teaching, getting out there and helping them learn and see how they can do things better.” Some of the skills the students will demonstrate during the program include tunity to learn about becoming a firefighter and get a jumpstart on a possible career in the field, while also training potential future firefighters for the local fire department.

With many high schools looking for ways to provide early career training options for students, KFD Fire Chief Tony Stewart said when he approached the KHS administration about implementing the program, former principal Jay Wood expressed to him that “…it was the perfect opportunity and just what he’d been looking for.”

Incorporating both written and practical/hands-on training, Tollefson said it is “the same course that any firefighter would take (to obtain Firefighter 1 certification).”

A set number of skills are taught throughout the course including learning about different types of fires and how to extinguish them, various conditions and scenarios, overall dangers and proper techniques to mitigate them and many other aspects of firefighting, he said.

Students also have the opportunity to obtain training and certifications in hazardous materials awareness and operations through Chisholm Trail Technology Center, which are required in order to complete Firefi ghter 1 certification.

In addition to offering students the opportunity to learn about firefighting, Tollefson said, “Our goal is also to get local students involved that are wanting to be part of this service so that we can potentially bring them on here.”

By offering the class to high school seniors, he said it gives them the opportunity not only to decide if firefighting is something they’re interested in, but the ability to earn necessary certifications at no cost to them before graduating high school.

If they successfully complete the program, Tollefson said they would potentially only need another semester to complete Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) certification through a nationally recognized school, a necessary step to be employed with Kingfisher Fire Department.

“If they enjoyed the class and complete the program, they now have their foot on the gas headed toward a career well ahead of their peers and could potentially be bringing in a minimum starting wage of $45,000 at KFD,” Tollefson said.

Only a couple of months into the class, both Browning and Cypert said they’re learning many things and enjoying the process.

“My family has a history serving as first responders, with my dad serving as a police officer in Piedmont and other locations and I want to make a career of it and continue that service,” Browning said.

With the same aspiration to serve, Cypert said he chose to take the class because “basically it comes down to service.”

“I’m looking at several possible paths after high school, but all involve serfinding and extinguishing a wall fire and a small-scale live dollhouse burn.

Currently some of the hands-on training abilities are limited due to space, but Stewart said once the new fire station is constructed they plan to build a reusable burn tower to create many fire scenarios which will be beneficial to both the students and for staff training as well.

Students will also learn how to perform search and rescue operations, how to control their breathing in the self-contained breathing apparatuses and make their air supply last longer in high heat and high stress situations.

At the end of the school year, students participate in the final written and practical exams for the opportunity to receive national certification as a Firefighter 1 and complete the program.

Some of the skills they will be tested on or have the opportunity to experience include appropriately donning their firefighting gear, live burns including extinguishing an above, same or below level fire, a car fire and dumpster fire, Tollefson said.

“It’s a crazy hot day, but a lot of fun,” he added.

Last year’s class of three students excelled in the practical portion of the test, Tollefson said, possibly because of the smaller class size which allowed for more in-depth hands-on training.

As the program progresses, Tollefson said it’s their hope that the department will be able to retain some of the homegrown people which will allow for deeper training options since they already know the streets and the local area.

“Also being a hometown person, they often know who they’re taking care of and they may be a little more invested in their patients and their community and since they have roots here, hopefully, they’ll want to stay here long-term,” said Tollefson, himself a 2002 KHS graduate.

As a whole, the program is teaching them the ins and outs of how the public service field works and the mentality needed to achieve success, Stewart said.

“ Hopefully, we’ve opened a door for them and provided that opportunity,” he added.