Several Neligh Firemen Complete Certification Classes

UPDATE: Sam Funk also completed Fire Fighter 2 Certification.

Several members of the Neligh Volunteer Fire Department completed National Certification classes with the Nebraska State Fire Marshal’s office. Chief Mike Mortensen announced that himself, Dave Jacobsen, Ryan Lichtenberg, Matt Henery, Randy Reinke and Sam Funk completed Fire Fighter 2 Certification. 

Several area firemen also complete the class from Wayne, Norfolk, Madison and O’Neill.  The second certification of Hazardous Materials Operations was completed by Mike Mortensen, Dave Jacobsen, Ryan Lichtenberg, Matt Henery, Randy Reinke, Gail Knust, Adam Mortensen, Nick Krohn, Chad Hamilton, Jake Sladky and Chris Kurpgeweit. 

To complete the Fire Fighter 2 certification, members spent nearly 80 hours in the classroom and must have Firefighter 1 certification. The members were then tested on 8 different practical skills tests and took 2 written tests totaling 150 questions. The Hazardous Material Operations certification requires 30 hours of classroom and is followed up by 4 practical skills tests and a 100 question written test.     

Fire Fighter 2 certification classes involve incident management, fire detection systems, fire streams and tactics, firefighter safety, reports and vehicle extrication. Hazardous Materials Operations involves identifying a haz mat event, identify the materials involved, make decision on evacuation area and defensive operations to contain the spill.

The members of the Neligh Volunteer Fire Department spend over 1,000 man hours per year in training.

There are also several area firemen currently taking Fire Fighter 1 certification from Neligh, Elgin and Orchard. Members from Neligh include Chris Kurpgeweit, Jake Schwarting, Nick Krohn, Jake Sladky, Bryan Hohnholt and Chad Hamilton. They will spend nearly 100 hours in the class room.

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