Emergency Vehicle Driver Training class
Photo by Mandi Bateman North Bench Firefighter Granite Allinger navigates through the Emergency Vehicle Driver Training course with his instructor, South Boundary Fire Chief Tony Rohrwasser, paying close attention.
Photo by Mandi Bateman EVDT instructor, South Boundary Fire Chief Tony Rohrwasser, goes over results with North Bench Fire Chief Gus Jackson.
BONNERS FERRY — On September 16, South Boundary Fire Chief Tony Rohrwasser held an Emergency Vehicle Driver Training class, consisting of approximately eight hours of class time and then a driving course. The class work covers safety and response, driving to and from emergency scenes. It goes over rules of the road and liability, leaving some new students nervous. “Things could be held against us, if something went wrong somewhere,” explained Rohrwasser.
For the driving portion, there are eight stations, each testing the driver’s ability to negotiate the large vehicles in tight locations, from serpentines, to tight reversing, to parallel parking, and more. All these push the drivers to the limit, most with only inches to spare. The course sizes are adjusted according to the length of the vehicle, from ambulance to fire truck. They also have different time limits based on vehicle size.
For the serpentine, Rohrwasser explained, “They drive to the end, and they back around and maneuver around with the truck, then they come forward and do the same thing. So teaching them maneuvering and pivoting, knowing when to turn on their tires, and things. A lot of use of mirrors is the biggest thing.”
In the parallel parking, the drivers must park in an area that is the length of their vehicle plus eight feet. “It’s very difficult,” said Rohrwasser, who has been teaching this class for over 15 years.
Everything is based on a point system and must be completed within a certain amount of time. Rohrwasser encourages his students to do the course twice. Most improve significantly the second round, and even if they did well the first time, they often reduce their time by quite a bit the second time.
North Bench Fire Chief Gus Jackson had drivers from his station participating in the class. “I think they are doing a wonderful job, said Jackson. “I am very proud of them for attending. I am very proud of them for always looking for ways to help improve their safety, and the responders safety in the county, that they want to meet our goals and objectives, keep all of our responders safe and going home every time, after every call.”
The end result is better, safer drivers, keeping our community safe.