Kia Motors Manufacturing Georgia recently donated four non-drivable vehicles to the LaGrange Fire Department for its on-going recruit school extrication class. The class is hosted by the LFD and includes recruits from the Troup County Fire Department as well. This is the 33rd rookie school for the LFD, which began conducting its recruit schools in 1978.

“A lot has changed over the years,” said LFD Lt. Austin Starr.

They will be put through classes such as firefighter 1 and 2, pressurized container fire control and flammable liquids training. The extrication portion is 16 hours and consists of both classroom and skills training. The skills portion includes scene safety, proper extrication tool usage, several door removal techniques and victim removal. The training will end with a large scenario, offering recruits the opportunity to use their skills in a real life situation.

“These cars will help our recruits learn real life extrication skills on newer model vehicles that are often only simulated,” said Starr. “Most cars that we cut are older vehicles and do not have the new technologies or stronger steels used in today’s cars. We are grateful to KMMG for donating these vehicles for this training and extrication class.”

Mobility is a major focus for KMMG’s corporate social responsibility program.

“This program supports our emphasis on safe mobility,” said Stuart Countess, KMMG’s chief administrative officer. “By repurposing non-drivable, trial vehicles, we are able to invest in these recruits by providing cars they may respond to in a real life crisis. Not only are these new first responders learning how to save our lives, but it’s quite possible that they’ll learn where wires, canisters, etc. are located that could save their own lives as well. We are proud to offer our support to this class.”

The recruit class started Sept. 4 and goes through the end of October.