About 100 firefighters and emergency personnel packed the Genesee County Fire Training Center on State street road on Saturday morning to take part in four different classes that will help them be more prepared.
Gary Hearn, Regional Emergency Manager for Amtrak, held a 4 hour class for 40 first responders to discuss Emergency Response Procedures for an Amtrak passenger train incident.
According to Hearn, 8 Amtrak passenger trains pass through Genesee County each day. Last time there was an incident involving a passenger train in Genesee County was in 1994 in the Town of Batavia . A rail issued caused the accident where over 100 people were injured out of about 300 on board.
Down the hall, another 20 emergency responders participated in an Advanced Emergency Medical Technician refresher class.
17 firefighters attended the Emergency Vehicle Operations Course which was presented through Tompkins Insurance.
Outside, the Firefighter II class was sharpening their skills on Auto Extrication Techniques. 20 firefighters participated in the 8 hour session which is part of a 50 hour course.
A volunteer firefighter recruiting drive will be held next weekend, April 28th, across NYS. Check with your local firehouse for more information.