11 recruits in week two of Watertown fire academy's 19-week program
Eleven recruits are in the second week of a 19-week Watertown Fire Department recruit academy, training from early morning to early evening each day, according to a published report.
By the ClickNNY North Country Desk
The Watertown Fire Department's recruit academy has entered the second week of a 19-week program, according to a report from another outlet. Eleven recruits are enrolled — 10 from Watertown and one from Plattsburgh — and they train daily from 5:45 a.m. to 5 p.m. on skills the department says they will use throughout their careers.
Training officer Chuck Waugh led recruits through ladder and knot work on Wednesday and said the schedule is kept fast on purpose, so recruits are ready to work from the moment they arrive at a scene. Recruit Ryan Bleidorn, an Army veteran, said his biggest challenge has been repetition and refining technique before the academy ends. Recruit Jared House said the group gets along well and jokes together during downtime. ClickNNY has not independently confirmed this account.
Reported by ClickNNY and reviewed by an editor before publication.
More from ClickNNY
Guides and features from across the North Country.
ClickNNY Guide · Fort Drum
Fall foliage on Fort Drum and in the North Country: what to know
Fall color is on display across Fort Drum and the North Country, with recreation access rules, trail information and seasonal updates available for visitors.
ClickNNY Guide · Thousand Islands
Fishing the St. Lawrence River after summer: a fall and ice fishing guide to the Thousand Islands
When the tour boats leave, the St. Lawrence becomes a different river. Here's what's biting in the fall, how ice fishing works, exactly what to bring, how to stay safe, and where to stay, whether you're visiting for the first time or have lived here all your life.
ClickNNY Guide · Fort Drum
Your first North Country winter: a survival guide for Fort Drum soldiers from the South
Never driven on snow, owned a snow blower or felt a February morning at Fort Drum? Here's what to wear, what to keep in your car and how to get through your first lake-effect winter.