JEFFERSON – Jackson County opened the door to their new Fowler Road fire training facility on Saturday for the 2010 Firefighter Training Weekend.

The event created the perfect opportunity for all the different firefighting entities in Jackson County to come together in one place for two days of learning and sharing.

Jefferson Captain Darrell Chaisson explained that in Jackson County there are numerous fire districts, each with their own fire fighters. Additionally, the cities of Commerce and Jefferson also have their own separate fire departments. While that’s a lot of coverage, it’s also a lot of diversity.

“This is the inaugural event. It’s something we have been planning for about twelve years. Through our SPLOST funds we have been able to build this facility. We (the Jefferson Fire Department) are hosting the event. We’ve got representation from all the different fire departments in Jackson County.” Chaisson added.

Instructors for the weekend have been brought in from as far away as Florida.

The opening speaker was Atlanta Fire Department Capt. Matt Lindquist whose story of survival during a 1999 house fire got everyone’s attention. “They changed the operation of the fire fight and during that transition I got knocked into the basement. I called for a “May Day”, but nobody picked it up.”

Lindquist spent over six months recuperating, but his experience has led to changes in the way fires are fought as well as enhanced communication between units - and that is one of the major themes of the 2010 Training Weekend.

But in spite of all the training and preparation, firefighting is still dangerous and risk is inherent. Krista Adkins’ husband of twelve years is one of the instructors this afternoon. She has brought with her their two small children.

Asked what it's like to be a firefighter's spouse she said,“You don’t watch the news when he is at work.” Pausing momentarily she added, “When he starts telling me the things he knows it kind of freaks me out because I begin to realize what he is doing every day when he is out there.”