Oakdale at the Fair: Fire Department Displays Trucks, Fire Explorers Compete

equipment was on display and the department’s Explorers competed at the Minnesota State Fair Friday, Aug. 26—Governor’s Fire Prevention Day.

Oakdale Explorer Zack Dommier took first place in the individual gear donning competition by getting his gear and breathing tank on in 43.9 seconds, said Oakdale Fire Chief Jeff Anderson.

The Fire Explorers—a Boy Scouts program made up of teens and young adults ages 14 to 21 who are interested in learning about a career in firefighting—competed in primarily team competitions throughout the day, Anderson said.

The contests included search and rescue, cardiac arrest management, gear donning (team and individual), spinal immobilization and backboarding and ladder raising, he said.

All the skills required for the contests are things Oakdale firefighters practice, Anderson said. New firefighters who’ve been in the Explorers come into the department with valuable experience, he said.

“These people actually come on as a productive firefighter from day one," he said. "They're already pretty familiar with some of the operations of the fire department."