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Alderman experiences day in life of fireman By SUE WATSON
Staff Writer  | Courtesy photo
Public Officials Day
Calvin James participates in Public Officials Day at the fire academy. |
Holly
Springs alderman Calvin James is the first elected official in the city
to participate in Public Officials Day at the state fire academy. “It
is a chance for them to experience a day in the life of a fireman at
the fire academy,” said chief Kenny Holbrook. “It is a full-blown
experience like they give firefighters.” The state began offering Public Officials Day at the fire academy about three years ago, he said. “The
fire academy people thought it would be a good experience. The idea
came from another state’s academy,” Holbrook said. “It’s a
once-in-a-lifetime experience. They experience the same thing the
firemen do.” James partnered with Holly Springs
fireman Ben Ivester, who helped the alderman suit up, operate a fire
house, and go into a smoke house to locate a “victim” and to extinguish
a “kitchen” fire. “They let them pull their hose
and put the fire out,” Holbrook said. “It’s a really good learning
experience for people in elected positions.” James
learned in the one-day training about the job of firefighters and how
important they are for the city and how important it is for officials
to support the job they do. After an in-class
orientation, James suited up and took a driving course through an
obstacle course steering a 20-ton vehicle, he said. Then he learned to
use the fire hose, to bleed it of air and then to put it through the
full range of motion. The tour of the two-story
fire and smoke house was the most daunting. With a partner and wearing
full gear, James entered the building on his knees with a fire house
which he used to extinguish a kitchen fire. While there they used a
thermal imaging camera to locate a “victim” in the smoke. James
said he came away from the experience with information and “high
respect and admiration for” what firefighters do. He thinks more
elected officials should participate in the program if they are
physically able to do so. “It’s just a wonderful course,” he said. He said he hopes the Mississippi Municipal League will offer a similar one-day course at the police academy. “This
builds a working relationship, because you know what they go through,”
he said. “I want to thank chief Holbrook and his staff for their
support.”
 | Photo by Sue Watson
Certificate of recognition
Fire
chief Kenny Holbrook (right) presents a certificate to alderman Calvin
James in recognition of his training at the fire academy. |
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