by Hanna Singh
The Ruston Fire Department recently completed its first-ever Citizens Fire Academy. This educational program was designed to involve local residents in the day-to-day operations of Ruston’s emergency services.
The program offered demonstrations, behind-the-scenes experiences and personal interaction with the fire and EMS team. Participants experienced a unique and eye-opening look into what it means to serve and protect the community.
The six-week course provided regular citizens with the opportunity to get a one-of-a-kind experience of what it’s like to be a firefighter through demonstrations including EMS and firefighting responsibilities. The program also gathered valuable insight and feedback from community members on how the department can better improve their community service and engagement.
Ruston Fire Department Director of EMS, David Wells, played an important role in organizing and directing the event.
“I thought that the citizen academy was a real success,” Wells said. “We received great positive feedback from the participants, and I think that the fire department members that helped make it a success enjoyed it as well. It was a learning experience for all that were involved and established a connection with citizens of the community that we are proud to serve.
The Citizens Fire Academy was not only held to educate, but also to serve as a bridge between first responders and the community. Participants engaged in practical activities such as spraying fire hoses, learning bleeding control techniques, forcible entry, vehicle extraction and even climbing the department’s towering ladder truck.
Executive Director of Christian Community Action, Stephanie Matthews, shared what she learned while taking part in the inaugural class.
“I spoke with David Wells when he was formulating the idea of having an academy,” Matthews said. “Over a year later, he invited me to be part of the Ruston Citizens Fire Academy. I learned that they receive over 5,400 calls a year, and 4,500 of them are ambulance calls. We learned how to intubate, stop bleeding, hose stream and forcible entry. My favorite of all was climbing the ladder truck.”
At the end of the six-week training academy, participants were recognized with a graduation ceremony, complete with a spaghetti dinner with the crew. Ruston Mayor Ronny Walker attended the event and personally thanked the participants for engaging with the department. The unpredictability of emergency work was on full display, even during the dinner, when firefighters were called away mid-celebration to respond to an emergency.
“That meant a lot to witness real life emergencies and how they put them top priority,” Matthews said. “They are truly dedicated to protect and serve us all.”
For many, the experience was not only educational but something of personal interest. Marketing and Communications Coordinator at the Ruston-Lincoln Chamber of Commerce Darbi Gonsoulin, shared her experience in signing up for the program.
“This was slightly out of my comfort zone when I signed up, but as we continued, this quickly became one of the most fun and educational experiences I’ve ever had,” Gonsoulin said. “Ever since I was a little girl, I found firefighting so interesting. The fact that people willingly ran into fires was just crazy to me. I always wanted to learn more about what they do.”
Each participant left the program with a certificate, a photo with Fire Chief Chris Womack, and a deeper understanding and appreciation of the dedication it takes to work in emergency services. Looking ahead, the department plans to offer the academy annually and develop shorter, targeted courses for local organizations and businesses.
“We hope to build upon this in the future,” Wells said. “The citizen academy was a success because of the participation and contribution of everyone involved.”
