Trial by fire: A Channel 8 reporter gets a taste of Lincoln Fire & Rescue training

LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) – Becoming a part of the Lincoln Fire & Rescue crew is not for the weak.

Recruits go through an 18-week academic course and then a six-month probation period when they are out in the field.

On Monday, a Channel 8 reporter got to experience a small part of what it takes to be a Lincoln firefighter.

At Station 1 at 18th and Q Streets, Capt. Jonathan Reed walked us through the process of putting on the heavy fire gear.

He said it normally takes less than two minutes, but it took our reporter about 20.

Channel 8 also learned the safe and proper way to hold the hose.

Recruits go through many drills, which include practicing using the hose and putting the ladders to use.

Station 1 has a 105-foot ladder, which the crew demonstrated on Monday.

Reed said one of the men is starting his probation period, and the crew has been putting him to work.

“We needed to move Tad over to my rig so we could have three people on the rig to stay in service,” he said. “Four minutes later, he’s doing an interior primary search on a three-alarm fire with three houses involved. It can be that quick.”

Reed said although the job requires a lot of hard work and late nights, there are so many benefits.

“With that comes a brotherhood you can’t find anywhere else,” he said. “You’re with these people 24 hours a day for a third of your life. Some of your best friends that you will ever have are going to become your co-workers. Also, the fulfillment you get from helping your fellow citizens through their hardest day, every day of work, is something that can’t be duplicated in any other job.”