Fire departments conduct "May Day" training on West End

The Taconite Harbor public water access was the site of a live-fire burn training hosted by the Tofte, Schroeder and Lutsen Volunteer Fire Departments on Saturday, May 6. About 30 local firefighters and emergency officials took part in the "May Day" training, which has been hosted by the West End fire departments for 17 years. 

According to Valerie Marasco, director of Emergency Management and Public Information for Cook County, the training was the last step in the Firefighter Level 1 & 2 certification process for 10 new firefighters in the county.

Chief Rich Nelson of the Tofte Volunteer Fire Department and Incident Commander for the exercise said, “We are proud to welcome these 10 new firefighters to the Fire Service and their respective departments."

Nelson added, “We couldn’t have asked for a better day and this was a great opportunity for local departments to come together, pool our resources, and train jointly.”

Along with the live-burn simulation unit contracted through Fire Instruction & Rescue Education (F.I.R.E.) out of Crosslake, Minn., area fire departments had nine different pieces of fire and emergency responder apparatus on site to assist with the half-day training exercise.

The following individuals completed their Firefighter 1 & 2 certification:
·         Kim Jahnke, Tofte 
·         Stephen Gray, Lutsen
·         Brandon Gillespie, Lutsen 
·         Jim Wallner, Grand Marais
·         Ashley Curtis, Maple Hill 
·         Kyle Stover, Maple Hill
·         Nick Bonin, Schroeder 
·         Charlie Bonin, Schroeder 
·         Joel Bonin, Schroeder 
·         Bradley VanDoren, Lutsen