Training at Station 158

The work a fire company does on an emergency scene is decided long before the call comes in. That is what Thursday nights are for.

Our members train at the Main Station on Thursday evenings, with the exception of the third Thursday of each month, which is reserved for our business meeting. Training is hands-on and runs year round, in the heat and in the snow, because that is when the calls come.

What a Training Night Looks Like

Topics rotate throughout the year so that every member stays sharp on the full range of the job:

• Fire management scenarios – working through realistic incidents from arrival to overhaul, so crews know their assignments before they are given.
• Hose management – stretching, advancing, and repacking lines until it is second nature in zero visibility.
• Driver training – handling our apparatus safely under emergency conditions and positioning it correctly on arrival.
• Pump operations – establishing water supply and setting the pressures that every hose line depends on.
• Search and rescue – systematic primary and secondary searches to locate and remove victims.
• Ladder placement and safety – proper angles, footing, and positioning for access and for firefighter escape.
• Radio practice – clear, disciplined fireground communication, which on a bad night matters as much as any tool on the truck.

Members also complete coursework through the Allegheny County Fire Academy, and all training costs are paid for by the Fire Company.

New Members Welcome

Nobody arrives knowing how to do this. Every member of this company started on a Thursday night with no experience, and learned the job alongside people who had been doing it for years. We work with each member's schedule, availability, and capabilities to get them trained.

If you would like to see what a training night looks like, stop by the Main Station at 2360 Rochester Road, Sewickley, PA 15143 on a Thursday evening, or learn more about becoming a member.