Having only been needed as an instructor on the first day of the Firebreak course in Beccles, I was eager to get along to the passing out parade on Friday afternoon to see how the week had gone.
I had been impressed on Monday by the effort and will to learn displayed by the students.
And what I witnessed in their final drills was fantastic. They did themseleves proud – drilling as a team, barking out the orders, heads held high and chests puffed out.
As their guests arrived the youngsters greeted them, showed them to their seats and waited nervously for the proceedings to start.
A few words of introduction from the acting Deputy Chief Fire Officer and then each student was introduced. They ran on to the drill yard followed by the instructors. The squad was then split into two crews with the first crew doing a ladder drill to rescue a baby from the first floor of the drill tower.
The drill went smoothly, everything was made up and the crew fell in to be greeted by a round of applause from the invited guests and instructors.
The second crew ran out two lines of 45 consisting of two lengths each, connected to the hydrant. They then got water on and choreographed their branchs resulting in a bright rainbow effect in the spray. Again, this crew were rewarded by sustained and deserved applause.
To round off the drill section of the passing out parade, both crews joined to carry out a combined drill.
The ladder crew had to rescue Mel Buck (christened Melanie for the purposes of the drill – he was wearing a fetching blue dress – and on a weekday instead of the normal weekend outing) from the tower while the remainder of the crew started setting up a dam. They then filled the dam from the hydrant, set the LPP (Light Portable Pump) into the dam and got two lines of 45 to work from the LPP.
With very little assistance from the instructors, everything ran according to plan.
It was an impressive drill especially getting an LPP to work. I don't think an LPP is anyones favourite bit of kit but the young lad tasked as pump operator made it look simple!
With everything made up and the applause still ringing in their ears, the students received their course portfolio from Joanna Spicer and the Dep. The 'Most Improved Student' was then presented with a certificate and shield.
The guests, students and instructors then made their way inside for refreshments and a chance to mingle and chat.
And so, on its first visit to Waveney, Firebreak was a resounding success. With any luck it won't be too long before the course is run in this neck of the woods again.
With any luck the course will have a lasting effect on the students and set them up well for the coming years as they make their way into adulthood…