SYLVANIA - The Screven County Fire Department will be the host in October for a fire safety training course that will offer life-saving techniques not taught even at the Georgia Public Safety Training Center. Firefighters in Screven and surrounding counties are eligible to register for the event.
      Fire Chief Harvey Cryder announced plans for the training at the Screven County Commissioners meeting Tuesday morning. The training facility and fire department in Screven County are more advanced than most others in the state, Cryder said. Professionals from all over the state have come to Screven to observe and try to model their facilities after ours, he said.
      Although basic firefighter training teaches many skills for going into burning buildings and rescuing people, many firefighters are becoming injured themselves and sometimes lack training in knowing how to protect themselves, Cryder said.
      The training course, Cryder said, is called Rapid Intervention Teams, where participants will learn techniques such as bail outs, entanglement, and advanced self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) procedures.
      Screven County firefighters will be provided the training at no cost, while a $50 fee will be charged for participants from outside the county. The fee includes lunch and a t-shirt for participants and would help offset expenses for the fire department, he said.
      "There should be 15-20 spots for those outside the county who want to be a part of the training," Cryder said. "But if more than that sign up, we can schedule another training weekend."
      The training is set for Friday, Oct. 1 from 6-10 p.m.; Saturday, Oct. 2 from 8 a.m.-5 p.m.; and Sunday, Oct. 3 from 8 a.m.-5 p.m.
      The deadline for registration is Sept. 24.
      To register or for more information, contact the Screven County Fire Department at (912) 564-2709.