Where do the firefighters learn to fight fires?
Each firefighter must complete the Illinois Firefighter 2 state certification. This class is put on by the Northwest Training Cooperative which consists of qualified instructors from area fire departments. This class is held at a number of different fire departments in our area including Grayslake. Each firefighter learns about the equipment, how to use it and different tactics and strategies to fighting fires. Most of all they learn safety for themselves and any victims. After class is completed they are required to go through live burn downs. These are dilapidated homes or buildings that are being destroyed by the property owner. Fires are set in different rooms and the new firefighters must attack and extinguish the fires. These burn downs are also done by departments whenever the opportunity presents itself to provide valuable training to the new firefighters as well as the veteran firefighters. Grayslake firefighters also receive much experience through the fires in their district
