Recently members of the Piedmont Fire Department, Spring Garden & Heflin Volunteer Fire Departments took part in a 40 hour course in Wildland Firefighting through the Alabama Forestry Commission. Among the training the firefighters received was in depth training on how weather conditions affect wildland fires, the procedures and safety concerns when constructing fire breaks, working around forest service heavy equipment and choosing safe zones and deployment of a fire shelter.

Piedmont Fire Chief Mike Ledbetter said each department answers their fair share of brush and woods fires each year and the class enhances their abilities to more effectively fight the fires, and builds on their already excellent working relationship with the Alabama Forestry Commission.

He also issued a “Thank you” to Alabama Forestry Commission employees Richard McCain and Brad Hanvey for instructing the course