Mary Joe Rindy of Bay Mills waits for the signal to get into her firefighting gear during one of a timed trials conducted during class Saturday, January 9. In December, 24 men and one woman began an intensive program to become volunteer firefighters. From St. Ignace, Mackinaw City, Rudyard, Kinross, Bay Mills, Garfield Township, Brevort Township, and Bruce Township, communities from across the bridge and from Mackinac and Chippewa counties, the volunteers began the Firefighting Academy class in St. Ignace prepared to spend the next six months learning and practicing the skills needed to fight fires. Making a contribution to their communities, say students, motivated them take the course.

Mary Joe Rindy of Bay Mills is a licensed practical nurse at Mackinac Straits Hospital who just became a paramedic in August. During her paramedic training, she participated in drills with fire science students at Bay Mills Community College. The experience piqued her interest and she joined the Bay Mills Fire Department.

A student in the firefighter training class, Tom Bontrager of Rudyard tightens his mask as he is timed on speed in getting into fire gear. The township is in need of volunteers, said Mrs. Rindy, whose husband, Ronald, is a police officer in the community.

"The world is getting crazy," she said, "and you always need people to help. So, if you can do it, why not?"

Several of the St. Ignace recruits are young men recently out of school. Nick Montie of St. Ignace said he wants to contribute to the community. A 2008 graduate of LaSalle High School, he is studying criminal justice at Lake Superior State University.

"Everybody in St. Ignace has always helped me whenever I've needed it," he said, "so this is kind of a chance to give back and help other people out."

This June, the students will be given a 200-question examination and a practical test on their firefighting skills, which will include working with a ladder, operating a hose, and using ventilation equipment. If they pass the tests, the trainees will be certified as firefighters Level I and II. The certification meets all state requirements. They will be trained in fire fighting, incident command operations, handling hazardous materials, and vehicle extrication. They also will know cardiopulmonary resuscitation and first aid and be able to operate a defibrillator.

Many of the volunteers, who range in age from 18 years old to more than 50, have full-time or parttime jobs, yet they attend classes two nights a week and twice a month all day Saturday. Textbook topics are reviewed in class and homework is done on the Internet, which they also used to take quizzes and tests.

"This first step, this academystyle class, is the hardest step they are going to take in their fire service career," said instructor Bryce Tracy, a St. Ignace fire captain and training officer. He has been teaching firefighting classes since 1998. Between lectures Saturday, January 9, in a St. Ignace Middle School classroom, Mr. Tracy also led a practical skills exercise. Class members moved into the library and were timed on their speed at dressing in their firefighting gear. The exercise is one of many that will take place over the course of the class .

Volunteer firefighters across the state must complete and pass the class within two years of joining their local fire department. Some students in this class have been assisting their local departments for a year or more. Others, however, with only a few months of attending local fire department meetings, got their first insight into the demands of the job on the scene of the downtown St. Ignace fire Wednesday, January 6, as they assisted by holding fire hoses.

Martin Beaudoin, 18, of Moran, helped with the hoses at the fire. The amount of pressure from the force of the water was surprising, he said.

Mr. Beaudoin became interested in firefighting from his father, Dale, a fireman for the township, who died last year.

Mr. Beaudoin joined the Brevort Township Fire Department five months ago, recommends the work to others, and now is considering making firefighting his career, hoping someday to get a full-time job with a department.

"Anyone who is willing to join the fire department should do it for the experience and to just help the community out," he said.

Also from Moran and following his grandfather's footsteps, student Codey Peters, 22, would like to make firefighting a full-time career. Firefighting is hard work, he said, and he stays in shape by lifting weights, walking, and jogging.

"I like the job, like helping people and the community," he said, "and I get to do something I've always wanted to do."

Most of the area departments are supported by volunteer firefighters . In St. Ignace, Fire Chief John "Bucky" Robinson is the only paid member.

The volunteer job is demanding, dangerous, and requires strength.

"Firefighting is one of the most dangerous occupations in the world," said Mr. Tracy. "The number one priority that every one of us has in the fire service is a life safety priority. Life safety for us as firefighters and our partners, and life safety for the public that we serve. That's what we're out there to do. Protect lives and also help protect property."

When fully dressed, volunteers find that firefighting clothing and gear can weigh up to 65 pounds. The clothing is fire resistant.

"It provides them an amount of protection that is limited and they are trained to know what those limits are," said Mr. Tracy of the clothing.

Fighting a fire can be intense work, said Chief Robinson. The recent St. Ignace fire was a longrunning battle to stop the blaze in very cold temperatures and to keep firefighters from tiring or getting injured. Chief Robinson followed textbook procedures, rotating each firefighter to allow them to catch their breath and get a drink or water or hot coffee to help warm up.

"In a fire like that, the efficient expectancy of a firefighter is 15 to 20 minutes," he said. "If [you're carrying ] an air pack, you're swinging an ax, and going up ladders, 15 to 20 minutes and you've got to sit down and rest."

Recruiting volunteers and keeping them is a challenge for area fire departments. People are moving away in search of jobs, and manpower is a key to firefighting, with the mutual aid program among municipalities helping to fill the gap.

Four men who recently have joined the Mackinaw City squad are taking the class, including Brian Jaeschke, who is the registrar of collections at Mackinaw State Historic Parks, and Village Manager Jeff Lawson.

"Being in the manager's position, I wanted to have the opportunity to understand the training the guys go through and it gives me a better relationship from the management side to the practicalities of the fire department," he said. "The bottom line is we're a smaller community and we need people out in the field, too, so we wear a lot of different hats. At a scene, we need more people power, and this gives more flexibility."

About 20 people are active in the Mackinaw City fire department, although some work out of town, he said, so volunteers always are needed. To help staff the department, cross-training has become key, with other city employees, police officers, and emergency responders also serving as firefighters.

"Recruitment and retention are probably the hardest things that we have for the fire service," said Mr. Tracy. "It's not only an area-wide problem, it's a statewide problem."

Recruitment is hard, he said. Some people who want to become a firefighter are turned off by the training requirements.

"Retention is difficult because it requires a dedicated commitment," he said.

Once on a volunteer squad, members are required to attend meetings and ongoing department training. They also are required to participate in a certain number of runs set by the local department.

Staffing levels fall when firefighters leave the area or are employed out of town.

"For some departments, that's a very tough hurdle that's not easily going to be overcome," said Mr. Tracy.

For the trainees, he said, the hardest hurdle will be making the passage from trainee to certified firefighter.

"They are going to have a moment sometime where they going to get assigned to a task at an emergency scene and they probably are not going to be supervised as they were as a beginning firefighter. There's not going to be the senior firefighter or officer with them guiding them with what to do," he said. "They're going to hit one of those moments where they realize this isn't a training session, this is the real deal and I've got to do this."

When they start the task, he said, their training will quickly come to them and they will succeed.

"Once they do that, it's really neat to see them because they just continue to grow from there," said Mr. Tracy.

"No amount of money in the world is going to give you the gratification you'll get as a firefighter when you're helping your community," he added.

Mr. Tracy has been in the fire service for 21 years. It is something he always wanted to do and now he enjoys teaching the skill to others.

For the class, Mr. Tracy is serving as the lead instructor, although other area trainers will present information to the students. Area fire departments cover the cost for the class, which is offered once a year.

Students taking the class include Kirk Grinnell, Philip Siebigteroth, William Vieau, Bretton Bednarski, Robin Murray, Kelly Gould, Mary Joe Rindy, Jeremiey Lee, Fred Lounsberry, Jeff Lawson, Brian Sharp, Mike Foster, Codey Peters, Trestin Fogelsonger, Cliffton Campbell, Martin Beaudoin, Jeremy Reeb, Bob Brotherton, Andrew Reed, Tom Bontrager, Nick Montie, Frank Beaudoin III, Brian Jaeschke, Jacob Gustafson, and Eric Thomas.