Oklahoma rural firefighters will attempt world record during Oklahoma State University Fire Service Training event in Atoka

Monday, January 9, 2012

Rural firefighters from across Oklahoma will shoot for a Guinness World Record when Oklahoma State University Fire Service Training hosts its largest training session ever this month in Atoka, Okla.

Firefighters will attempt to break the current world record for longest fire truck parade of 159 trucks by Switzerland when they line up at 6 p.m. on Jan. 20 in Atoka. OSU Fire Service training, recognized as a national leader in standards and procedures for firefighting, will hold regional training on Jan. 21-22,

"OSU-FST has been a leader in all areas of fire service and our work touches the lives of all Oklahomans. Holding the largest fire truck parade record would be an outstanding accomplishment for Oklahoma Fire Service," said Bob Allen, FST Rural Program Coordinator.

As an outreach unit of Oklahoma State University, OSU Fire Service Training creates and delivers elite training, continued education and professional certifications to emergency responders in Oklahoma.

Allen says this regional training will host over 500 rural volunteer firefighters from across Oklahoma, the largest training FST has ever conducted. He continues by stating this valuable training is offered at no cost due to additional funding for rural volunteer firefighters appropriations made by Oklahoma legislators.

"This regional school will offer training in most all firefighting areas with a focus on Wildland Firefighting and Managing Wildland Fires," said Allen. "Oklahoma is still in the one of the worse drought conditions that has lead to a record number of wild fires."

Other areas of focus during this training will include Leadership, Vehicle Firefighting, Hazardous Materials, Emergency Medical Training, Mutual Aid, Flammable Liquid Firefighting, Tornado Response, Rescue Training, and Structural Firefighting Procedures.

Fire Service Training relies heavily on legislative support to continue training and outreach to emergency responders in Oklahoma. In 2011, over 2,383 training and certification events were provide by FST, with 30,649 employed and volunteer emergency responders receiving training.

"We are very proud of what we do," said David Thompson, Associate Dean of Outreach for the College of Engineering, Architecture and Technology for OSU. "The efforts made through this department potentially affect every citizen in Oklahoma."

For more information on this regional training and Guinness World Record Attempt, contact Bob Allen, Rural Program Coordinator for OSU Fire Service Training at 1-800-304-5727 or 405-744-5727.