Last month the Stuart Fire Department conducted two training sessions aimed at improving personnel’s responses to various fire scenarios. Both of those sessions included firefighters from other communities. Most recently, the department hosted the Interior Fire Attack Simulator, with participating departments from Bagley, Earlham, Greenfield, and Dexter.

Stuart Fire Chief Mike Renslow talks about the importance of having multiple communities to rely on when dealing with fires. “Working together is imperative for success of any rural department for sure…Working with the other communities, you don’t see them that often, so if you can do joint trainings when you do get called for mutual aid or automatic aid, it makes the whole seam flow a lot smoother.”

Departments from Dexter, Menlo, and Greenfield also participated in a cooperative training burn earlier in March. Renslow tells Raccoon Valley Radio they have increased participation in mutual calls, particularly with the Greenfield Volunteer Fire Department.