Four Cornwall-on-Hudson residents are joining the ranks of 35 other active volunteers with the Storm King Engine Company.
On June 21, Andrew Cucci, John Ketchell, Carl Kumpel, and Greg Scharfenberg completed the 104 required hours to become certified as firefighters.
The training took place over the course of four months at the Orange County Fire Training Center and was administered by New York State certified instructors. The course follows a national curriculum administered by the New York State Office of Fire Prevention and Control.
Classes are offered several times during the year and a number of options are available to fit the schedules of the prospective firefighters.
Scharfenberg is a New York City EMT and had to fit the training around his work schedule. Cucci, a junior, and Ketchell, a senior, both had to fit training around their high school activities. Cucci wrestled during the winter and is an Eagle Scout.
Two of Storm King’s newest members took the course during the week, spending three hours two days a week in the classroom. The others opted for full-day training every Saturday. Instruction was completed March through June.
Only two, however, can claim to be full-fledged firefighters. Cucci and Ketchell are still under the age of 18, which means, while still members of Storm King Engine Company, they can’t enter a burning building. They are able to handle any other duty asked of them.
The four may have completed the instruction necessary to become firefighters, but their training is not finished. Storm King conducts training in-house because not every fire department has the same operating procedures or uses the same equipment. Training is tailored to meet the fire company’s parameters.
Storm King is always looking for new members. Training and equipment is free, all one needs to provide is the time to commit to the training.
