Four groups joined the live-burn exercise coordinated by the Brookfield Fire Department. Students were working on qualifying for a state firefighter certification, while some instructors were working toward training certifications.
Taniya Wright and Nevaeh Williams, both students at Choffin Career and Technical Center, attended a live-burn training event in April. The training was coordinated by the Brookfield Fire Department with collaboration from CCTC, West Point Fire Department Education Division, Western Reserve Joint Fire District, and Youngstown Fire Department's training center, as reported by local publication, The Vindicator.
Wright is 18 years old and attends both East High School and CCTC, working toward her goal of becoming a police officer, she told reporters. She chose to participate in the live-burn event but said, "I didn't know I was going to enjoy this program because I wasn't into firefighting." Wright went on to explain how she felt after the event, wanting to set the example for other women wanting to enter the first-responder field, saying, "I feel like I can be the person to do it. There's a lot of stuff going on in this world, and people need to feel safe."
According to Lt. Abbie Buday of the Brookfield FD, the collaboration brought the local partners together, with participants all finding benefits. CCTC students became eligible to earn their firefighting level 2 certifications, the Youngstown FD participants worked on instructor certification, and West Point attendees focused on firefighting rehabilitation skills such as monitoring vital signs. A total of 25 people were in attendance, working in four groups at the Brookfield Fire Department.
Wright indicated she was eager to participate for the assistance she could offer to other first responders, saying, "Why wouldn't I? We're family in some type of way. I'm here to support them."
Her sentiments were echoed by Dale May with West Point EMS. May said of his peers in the West Point class, "We're all close. We're all friends…. Trying to help each other out." May also noted, "I thought about what I would do if I hit the lottery tomorrow, and I'd still want to do this."