Learning the ropes

Lolita Harper

Allison Henry stood on the ledge of a five-story window Wednesday

afternoon, eagerly anticipating her descent.

Her small frame, covered from head to toe in traditional firefighter

yellow, dangled precariously from the brink as her fellow Explorers stood

by waiting for her signal.

“On belay,� Allison, 17, shouted.

“Belay on,� a colleague answered.

And with that, her yellow helmet disappeared from view as she

rappelled down the side of the training building in Costa Mesa.

Allison was just one of 53 Fire Explorers participating in a weeklong

fire academy. Academy recruits came from all over the county, and even as

far as Riverside and Colorado Springs, Colo., for the program, which

offered a variety of firefighting training at various stations, said

Orange County Fire Authority Battalion Chief Mike McCoy.

Costa Mesa Fire Station No. 4, on Placentia Avenue, hosted the

ambitious class of Explorers on Wednesday, focusing on different rescue

systems, such as heavy rescue, and search and rescue. Eight of the 53

students were working on their home turf as Costa Mesa Fire Explorers.

It was Allison’s first experience rappelling down the face of a

five-story building. And although she stands only 5 feet 1, the Costa

Mesa Fire Explorer was unshaken.

“It was easier than I expected,� she said. “I had a good amount of

control. Plus, I know I am in good hands with this crew and the safety

line. They take good care of you here.�

Academy Chief and Costa Mesa Explorer Nathan Brown helped run the show

and offered advice to other, more novice students. Brown said he has gone

through five similar academies in his three years with the Explorers.

“Those of us who have done a lot of these drills before mainly offer

help and know-how,� he said. “We like to let the new people do most of

the hands-on so they get a feel for it.�

Allison was one of those newcomers and has been in the program only

since January. Just six months into her preliminary training, she is sure

of her future as a firefighter.

“This is definitely what I want to do,� she said. “I never thought I

could do it because I am small, petite and female -- it was never a

girl’s job -- but now I realize it’s possible.�

Fellow Costa Mesa Explorer Luis Matheus shared Allison’s enthusiasm

for firefighting and proved his dedication to his class by shouting the

troop’s number while sliding down a rope from the fourth story of the

training tower.

“This week has been a blast,� he said after his feet reached solid

ground again. “It has been such a learning experience and a great

introduction to the fire service.�

By the end of the week, the group will have extinguished a fire,

practiced various rescue techniques, and rappelled from towers, as well

as trained for flammable liquid fires, oil and propane fires and more.

The academy, open to people ages 16 to 21, not only provides

experience to those who are sure about their career path, it helps

determine who is cut out for fire service, McCoy said.

“Some kids realize maybe this isn’t for them and that way they don’t

waste their time in classes at school,� McCoy said.

Matheus said the academy has only strengthened his resolve to be a

firefighter.

“I’ve always wanted to be a fireman,� he said. “It is a respectful

profession, it requires teamwork, it’s a different thing every day, and

you get to help people.�

* Lolita Harper covers Costa Mesa. She may be reached at (949)

574-4275 or by e-mail at o7 [email protected] .