The space is hot, dark, crowded, a little bit on fire, and I can’t see my hands.

I wipe fog off my oxygen mask and what was faint blurs a second ago snap into focus. It’s a Saturday afternoon, and I’m following Chief Dennis Benn and students of the recruit academy hosted at the South Beach Regional Fire Authority’s (SBRFA) Westport training center into a shipping container full of burning pallets and plywood.

Chief Dennis Benn of the South Beach Regional Fire Authority, right, checks the temperature from a fire in an enclosed space during a firefighter academy in Westport on Feb. 18. (Michael S. Lockett / The Daily World)

The academy started in January, hosting volunteer firefighters from across the county as they seek to improve their trade, learning the science and best practices as laid out by the International Fire Service Accreditation Congress, the organization that establishes a worldwide standard for learning firefighting.

[Friday morning fire in Hoquiam latest in busy week of calls]

“We started in January,” said Lucas Salstrom, a volunteer from the Montesano Fire Department. “I believe we graduate in May.”

Salstrom has been with Montesano’s department for a bit more than a year, he says. For other members of the academy, the decision to become a volunteer is a more recent decision.

Michael S. Lockett / The Daily World Volunteer firefighters practice ladder techniques during a firefighter academy in Westport on Feb. 18.

“(I’ve been a volunteer) since January of this year. I took a CPR class in November of last year and they mentioned they needed volunteers,” said Ian VanDooren, a volunteer with the Aberdeen Fire Department. “I moved down to Aberdeen from Tacoma last April. Rural communities super-rely on volunteers.”

For yet others, the academy is the next step on a long-held ambition.

“I’ve been volunteering for a year and two months. I want to make a career out of it. I want to be here,” said Jacob Lowe, a volunteer with SBRFA. “This has been my dream since elementary.”

Volunteer firefighter Kori Goudey of the Montesano Fire Department practices breaching through a vertical wall with an axe during a firefighter academy in Westport on Feb. 18.

Train like you fight

One of the things the academy does is try to instill good habits into the 16 recruits, such as operating with a buddy at all times, a practice reminiscent of military basic training. Also much like basic training, many of the recruits are relatively young people, with much of the class under 21.

“We have this thing called team integrity. You gotta keep everyone in a team of two,” Salstrom said. “That’s the hardest part, making sure everyone got a partner, making sure everyone’s doing what they’re supposed to, making sure no one’s in danger.”

Lowe said that’s taking a little more getting used to for him.

Volunteer firefighters taking part in the county’s firefighter academy are expected to be proficient in tying a number of knots, and are required to keep a specific length of rope on them at all times. (Michael S. Lockett / The Daily World)

“The buddy system has been killing me,” Lowe said. “I usually like to do stuff alone so it’s been difficult to keep that in check.”

That close working relationship with the other recruits is something he missed, VanDooren said.

“Crew work, camaraderie,” VanDooren said. “That’s what I missed (from) working in restaurants, that’s what I’m finding here.”

Volunteer firefighters Kody LaLonde and, left, and Parker Gleason of the Montesano Fire Department take a break between breaching exercises during a firefighter academy in Westport on Feb. 18. (Michael S. Lockett / The Daily World)

VanDooren said getting used to the protective gear was initially difficult, especially the process of rapidly gearing up to simulate a call-out.

“Having like, no prior experience with volunteering, getting into the gear (was difficult). Getting used to it, with the restrictive range of motion,” VanDooren said. “Over the last two weeks I’ve been getting a lot more comfortable with it.”

Photos by Michael S. Lockett / The Daily World The accoutrements of firefighting lay stacked in orderly rows while members of the firefighter academy, held this year in Westport, are away on lunch on Feb. 18.

Work attire

As I kit up, I’m inclined to agree with VanDooren about there being some difficulty getting used to it.

First go the heavy trousers and their integral boots over the pants I was wearing, held up by suspenders I didn’t quite figure out before I’m on the next step, shucking the heavy coat on. The boots take a little getting used to, but the trousers and jacket are welcome insulation against the brisk breeze whipping through the Westport training center.

Volunteers taking part in a firefighter academy in Westport throw on their gear after lunch on Feb. 18. (Michael S. Lockett / The Daily World)

A flame-resistant flash hood goes on over my neck, before putting on the heavy air tank, getting some assistance to cinch up the various and unknowable straps that are second nature for the firefighters. When it’s time to head into the shipping container, the air mask — self-contained breathing apparatus — goes on, hooked up to the air tank, before I pull the flash hood over the mask straps.

Last comes the helmet — one of the firefighters helps me get it buckled on right, my gloved fingers trying to make a hash of it. The ensemble complete, I feel like I’m wearing a particularly elaborate costume, and one not necessarily made of the lightest materials. It’s not too onerous to begin with, but watching the firefighters as they work through their breaching drills, I’m starting to understand why they look so knackered as they pull their gear off or sit exhausted on the damp pavement.

Capt. Keith Zelepuza of the South Beach Regional Fire Authority, kneeling, demonstrates a forcible entry technique during a firefighter academy on Feb. 18 in Westport. (Michael S. Lockett / The Daily World)

Fighting forward

The firefighter recruits seem universally excited to keep learning more and progressing through the academy.

“I’m looking forward to live fire,” Salstrom said. “Being thrown into a real life scenario, putting all the skills we’ve learned together, and slaying the dragon, as they say.”

Spending some time as a volunteer helped prepare him for the academy, Lowe said.

A volunteer firefighter practices breaching through a window before clearing the edges of the frame of fragments during a firefighter academy in Westport on Feb. 18. (Michael S. Lockett / The Daily World)

“Try and mature before you go to the academy,” Lowe said. “If you do one year (volunteering), you’ll be surprised how much you learn before you go to the academy.”

Salstrom recommended learning as much as possible, studying hard for the academy, saying it’s better to know too much than not enough. VanDooren’s advice to people considering volunteering is less metaphysical.

“Get your cardio up,” VanDooren said.

Contact reporter Michael S. Lockett at 757-621-1197 or mlockett@thedailyworld.com.