For firefighters, Jan. 23 of 2005 marked a day of tragedy – and one that brought change that continues to this day.
That day is known as Black Sunday, among the darkest days in the history of the New York City Fire Department. Multiple firefighters were killed in the line of duty during separate incidents, the first time since 1918 that FDNY firefighters died responding to separate calls on the same day. Three firefighters passed away due to their injuries; two others were permanently disabled.
It’s Black Sunday that inspired the Luling Volunteer Fire Department’s Weekend Fire School, which will be taking place Friday, Saturday and Sunday at the fire department’s training facility.
“(Black Sunday) can happen anywhere. It’s happened here in Louisiana multiple times, where firefighters have pushed too far or gotten jammed up in a spot where they had to call a mayday or bail out of a window,” said Luling VFD training chief Stephen Stromeyer.
Six firefighters from St. Charles Parish attended a firefighter conference in Baton Rouge that was hosted by firefighters from the St. George Fire Protection District.
“We all got inspired to bring type of training and conference to the firefighters of St. Charles Parish to better protect and serve the people of St. Charles Parish,” Stromeyer said.
The focus this weekend will be on firefighter survival, encompassing everything keeping firefighters safe on a fire ground and how to approach incidents where a firefighter is trapped.
“How to extract a firefighter who unfortunately gets trapped from the area, how to give them some of the medical attention that they need,” said Stromeyer. “(Participants) will be bailing out of windows on the ropes, on ladders and learning how to package a downed firefighter under intense conditions.”
He said the department will make the conditions as close to real as possible while still maintaining safety for everyone involved.
Friday will be classroom work, then Saturday will see things ramp up to learning hands on techniques. On Sunday, Stromeyer says the work will progress into a live drill format.
The department holds the schools twice a year since beginning the course three years ago. In the fall, several fire departments from outside of St. Charles Parish will participate.
