Hundreds Gather for 2021 Cody Fire School This Weekend

With fire season looming right around the corner, hundreds of regional firefighters gather for crucial training on methods and materials during the 2021 Cody Fire School.

After a year’s hiatus due to the pandemic, the Cody Volunteer Fire Department hosts the 2021 Cody Fire School this weekend. Classes will be held throughout the community starting April 30 through May 2.

Hank Avery, the Fire School Chairman for the Cody Volunteer Fire Department, says there’s a higher-than-normal amount of interest and participation in this year’s school.

“It’s definitely has a little more interest than year’s past,” Avery says. “We’re well over 300 people signed up to participate in classes.”

Avery said nearly 350 participants from all over northwest Wyoming are signed up. Instructors from Denver and Corona, California, are also coming in for the educational weekend.

In addition to classroom training, participants will directly experience saving lives and battling flames – all simulated, of course.

Classes begin Friday, April 30, with weekend-long and full-day seminars or half-day courses. Some of the course includes for the 2021 Cody Fire School include:

• Basic and Advanced Auto Extrication
• Basic and Advanced SCBA (self-contained breathing apparatus)
• Forcible Entry
• Gas Detection
• Engine Operations
• Vehicle Fires

The Cody Fire School recently used Facebook to ask the community for its assistance – by donating their old cars.

Courtesy Cody Fire School

“Quite a few people donate to Auto Extraction classes,” Avery says. “We need to be able to cut up cars that are relevant to what’s on the road, so it’s kinda nice to have some of the newer ones. Sometimes it’s hard to get those, but there’s always plenty of generosity.”

Since the first fire school in May 1974, Cody has held a consistently – high-caliber program during the first weekend in May. Avery cites tradition and the quality of classes, instructors, and facilities – like the training center near Beck Lake – as the reasons why firefighters of all types and levels of experience come to Cody to participate.

Avery thanks the Cody community for “fueling the fire” that keeps the program going. That support guarantees the current and future success of the Cody Fire School.

“We appreciate everyone’s donations and help with making this happen,” Avery says. “If we don’t have this training, our firefighters aren’t prepared for any of the dangers we have to face. It’s very important.”