KEITHVILLE, La. - More than 80 firefighters attended the Caddo Cooker -- a training event held at Caddo Parish Fire District No. 4 for the past four years.
“Primarily, we focus on our core skills, like our firefighting tactics, search and rescue. Lots of practice on our basic skills with repetition. And we're also incorporating new skills as well, giving a good blend between those two,” said Fire District No. 4 Chief Chad Falls.
Firefighters must be prepared in any scenario, even going inside a burning building.
“It's good for them to learn that even if you're doing something you've already done, that reps and practice is going to make it perfect,” said Paula Thames, a firefighter from Florida and instructor for 3rd Alarm.
Even though the training is tough, those who attended say it’s vital.
“Push them past that fatigue. You know, we have this thing called working in the black and you get to a point where you are just, you're hot, you're tired, you're sweating or dizzy and pushing past that into the next level,” said Thames.
The firefighters came from all over the country.
“We have people from all over, so we get all different aspects of fire service. You get to hear from different firefighters, from different parts of the country that have come up with new techniques, different ways to do things,” said Falls.
One man even traveled from Mexico.
“I realize that sometimes we are stuck because we don’t know that there are new techniques and new things that are more safe and better to combat the fire,” said Mexico firefighter Alan Garredo. “So, I decided to go to another place to learn, to learn a lot and other things and bring that to my people in Mexico.”
This training is held each year and officials say it’s the largest of its kind in north Louisiana.
