On Saturday April 13th, 2013 the Chester County Department of Emergency Services hosted Friends and Family day at the Spring Firefighting 1 class being held at the West Chester Fire Department Training Center. Students from many fire departments from around Chester County are part of this class.

Family day gives all the parents, significant others, and friends the opportunity to come see what the students have learned leading up to this point. In some cases family and friends don't understand what a firefighter has to do to become trained and in these cases, when they attend this day, they are overwhelmed by what they see.

Fire Police Officer turned Firefighter, Sean Barron and Firefighter Kyle Desiderio from the Thorndale Fire Company are part of this class learning all the basic skills that a firefighter needs. This class requires all students to attend classes two nights a week and almost every weekend except Easter, from Feb. 26 to May 4th. The students have endured the weather, multiple live fire scenarios, learning how fire itself behaves under conditions as well as tools, ladders, hose line management search and rescue and water supplies.

When students finish this class they receive the following certificates Firefighting 1, Haz-mat Awarenes and Operations, Basic First Aid, CPR, and have the opportunity to challenge the National test for Fire 1. When the students finish this class, some may never see each other again. But when they step on an emergency scene, they will know exactly what to do and how to work extremely well with other fire companies.

Modena's Chief Frank Dowlin, Thorndale's Assistant Chief Don Taylor and many other Chief Officers have had the opportunity to address the class and share with them what the it means to be in the fire service and give some kind words of wisdom.