The Congressional Fire Services Institute played host to Congressional staff who exchanged their regular business attire for attire worn by firefighters and rescue personnel to experience a day of actual training at the Maryland Fire and Rescue Institute.

Co-sponsored by CFSI and MFRI, the Congressional Firefighter Training Program is an abridged one-day training program, staffed with professional instructors who guide the participants through a series of training evolutions. It gives the participants hands-on experience in firefighting to enrich their understanding about the important role of federal programs in training and equipping first responders.

On the evening of Nov. 29, over 70 congressional staff — some of whom participated in the training program — spent an evening with fire departments responding to emergencies in rescue vehicles. With the support of fire departments from the District of Columbia; Arlington County, Va.; Fairfax County, Va.; Prince George’s County, Md.; and Montgomery County, Md., the ride-along attracted the largest number of participants since the inception of the program in the early 1990’s.

“Ours is a unique role in Washington, D.C., providing an array of programs that can have a profound impact in educating and changing perceptions about the fire and emergency services on Capitol Hill,” said CFSI Executive Director Bill Webb. “We certainly extend our thanks and appreciation for the continued support of MFRI and the participating fire departments of these programs.”