PICKENS COUNTY, Ga. — Students participating in the GROW Program with Pickens CTI got a firsthand look at the daily responsibilities of firefighters during a visit to Pickens County Fire Rescue Station #2.

During the visit, firefighters Devlin and Johnson explained what life is like working 24-hour shifts, including living at the fire station while on duty and being ready to respond to emergencies at any time. The students also learned that fire crews respond to a wide variety of calls in addition to structure fires.

Firefighters gave the group a tour of a fire engine, explaining how the apparatus operates and showcasing the assortment of tools and equipment carried on board. One of the highlights of the visit was the opportunity for students to climb into the fire truck and sit in the crew seats.

The station’s new front-line ambulance was unavailable for the tour because it was responding to an emergency call. While at the station, students heard the ambulance being dispatched over the same radio system firefighters use to receive emergency calls. They were still able to tour a reserve ambulance and learn about the differences between an ambulance and a fire engine.

Pickens County Fire Rescue said the visit was a success, with students actively participating and enjoying the experience. The department also thanked the personnel at Station #2 and Fire Safety Educator Megan Leathers for helping make the educational visit possible.