Firefighters trained for water rescues, mass casualties

The Jefferson City Fire Department this week is hosting the Summer Fire School and Midwest Wildfire Training Academy at the Hyde Park training facility.

The training will focus on practical skills necessary for emergency responders and wildland firefighters.

The MWTA is made possible through a USDA Forest Service grant and is co-located with MU’s summer fire school.

This is an annual event that runs through June 8. The fire school began Wednesday.

More than 550 participants from 15 states will gather in the Capital City for the 2014 Summer Fire School.

MU’s Fire and Rescue Training Institute organizes the training. This year’s program features about 40 courses, including new courses on boat rescue operations, and confined space rescue and mass casualty incidents.