Firefighters from throughout central and northern Kentucky spent the weekend demonstrating their skills with hopes of becoming certified through a national organization.
Fifty-three firefighters went through the skills testing portion of the accreditation process through the International Fire Service Accreditation Congress at Winchester Fire Department's Station 3. The accreditation process also includes a written test, Winchester Fire Maj. Greg Beam said. IFSAC certifications are recognized in most states, but not all states recognize all IFSAC certifications, he said. Kentucky only recognizes firefighter I, firefighter II, haz-mat awareness and haz-mat operations, he said.
Firefighters had to complete skills at five different stations, though they didn't know what skill they had to perform until they met the instructors.
"You don't know what's coming... like most things in the fire service," said Nicholasville firefighter Jermaine Jackson while he waited in the bay for his next assignment.
