______________________________________________
Each year before Firehouse Expo officially opens, hands-on training sessions are offered to firefighters who travel to Baltimore, Md., from around the country to learn from some of the fire service's top educators.
More than 400 participants are expected to participate during the hands-on training sessions offered on July 20 and July 21.
Coverage of Firehouse Expo 2010
"It's grown. It's gotten more technical and has really evolved," Hands-On Training Logistics Coordinator and retired FDNY Firefighter Nick Giordano said.
Giordano has been involved with the training program since the first year it was offered nearly 10 years ago.
As always, participants are able to use the most cutting edge equipment donated by various manufacturers. "The philosophy is that if (the manufacturers) believe in it, they'll put their products in the firefighters' hands."
Also this year, a rope class has been offered for the first time. "We need to have classes that make it interesting for the firefighters," he said, noting that there was a lot of demand for the class and that the second day is sold out.
Although the economy is still down, he says it hasn't affected the ability to offer relevant courses to participants.
"We had cut a couple classes, but the registration is still high," he said. "We get a lot of first timers who get the opportunity to learn from some of the top educators in the industry."
First-time participants, volunteer firefighters Amir Shokrollahi and Kevin Garvey with the Malverne Fire Company in Long Island said they were impressed by the training.
"It's been very, very interesting," Shokrollahi said.
Garvey added, "This has been phenomenal. I've been to training in Pennsylvania and this is a lot more intense."
On Tuesday afternoon, the two were taking a break on the back step of a fire engine. Shokrollahi said there was plenty of water and Gatorade, and instructors encouraged everyone to stay hydrated.
Hillsborough Volunteer Fire Company No. 2 Fire Chief Pat Buckley and his son, Firefighter/Paramedic Ryan Buckley, were taking part in simulated live fire training at a group of vacant buildings in the city.
Both of them were there starting at 8 a.m. into the afternoon and Buckley said the heat proved challenging.
"Brutal," he said. "It's been unforgiving."
Buckley said he has been attending Firehouse Expo since 1998 and have taken part in the hands-on training every year it's been offered.
"It gives you the opportunity to train with career guys who do it more often where it's their livelihood," he said. "The opportunity is just invaluable."
Paul Peluso | Staff Writer
Paul Peluso is a Firehouse.com staff writer and has worked for the Web site since 2006. Previously, he worked as a reporter for several community newspapers located in the suburbs of Baltimore, Md. Since joining the newsteam, Paul has covered various fire service issues including fire sprinklers, grants, line of duty deaths and technology. While he started out at the Beltsville, Md. office, he has since moved to Florida where he works out of his home office in Tampa.
