Westside Fire Training Academy

The 2017 Graduating Class. Great bunch of recruits, now Probationary Firefighters.

The official 2017 Academy t-shirt

Advanced Live Fire 2017

Thanks to our two helpers for the day, John Mohn filling SCBA bottles, and Garyn Doering running engine ops.

Chief Wolverton, explaining to The Flamingo how he keeps his helmet so clean.

Chief Garden explaining how he used to swat dinosaurs away when he fought cave fires.

WFTA 2017 had a long weekend of hose and ladders. Even though the class has a strong grasp of the basics, they still needed the help of The Flamingo to subdue the always dangerous Viper. (Photo be Anne Nesbit)

The 2016 class projects...a stand for future class guidons, and a passport board for the classroom. Special thanks to Alex Jacobson for his wood working skills.

2017 Westside Academy...spending the day training in live fire at the Washington State Fire Training Academy (WSFTA). Thanks to all the instructors and assistants that made this happen.

Timeline photos

Most of the 2017 Westside Academy. Displaying the triple W guidon of the Westside Water Wizards. Photo by Anne Nesbit.

More forcible entry today using a circular saw. Photos by Anne Nesbit.

Recruits learning forcible entry techniques in the pouring rain. Strong work from FE Specialist Jeff Piercy.

A weekend of hose and ladders. Thanks to West Pierce for allowing us to use their training tower.

Westside 2017 - Graduation date: June 24th, 1300 at Gig Harbor City Park.

2016 Swearing in ceremonies.

Flamingo vs. Viper...Flamingo wins!

The final test for the WTA 2016-1 Recruits was yesterday, June 18th. After 14 hours of testing on Haz Mat and Firefighter skills, the class finshed with a 95% passing rate. Next up is graduation, Saturday, June 25th. 1pm at Crescent Creek Park in Gig Harbor.

WTA 2015-1 during flag salute, and fire behavior lecture prior to entering the building.

Why do I succeed?

I succeed because I am willing to do the things you are not.

I will fight against the odds.

I will sacrifice.

I am not shackled by fear, insecurity or doubt.

I feel those emotions–drink them in and then swallow them away to the blackness of hell.

I am motivated by accomplishment, not pride.

Pride consumes the weak–kills their heart from within.

If I fall, I will get up. If I am beaten, I will return.

I will never stop getting better. I will never give up, ever.

That is why I succeed. ----Anonymous

2014-1

2009-1 WFTA

It has been a few years since Westside has gone and conducted night operations at the academy. Fire training at night adds a new perspective for recruits.

This post was updated to include the 3 known WFTA shirts. The students of the '08 class decided to honor "The Flamingo", and included Recruit Nesbit's coined word "Firefightery." The 2012 shirt had a Steilacoom FF carrying a gun, and a Gig Harbor FF with a cup of coffee. The 2016 class included a gorilla head...certainly it was in honor of Ivan.

A Barrett Tillman quote on the side of the North Bend Academy cafeteria.

Without these instructors, the magic doesn't happen. L to R, AC Hal Wolverton, Lt. Larry Rucker, BC Anne Nesbit, and BC Dennis Petersen

A good reason not to leave your guidon unattended. In 2008, the North Bend "Firewyrms" forgot theirs, so The Flamingo grabbed it for some photo ops.

2002 WFTA