Baptism by fire

COEUR d'ALENE — When James LaVille attended a two-week paramedic training in Boston, he was joined by three firefighters from Coeur d'Alene.

He found the Lake City firefighters to be inviting, welcoming and great to be around.

It was then he knew he wanted to work with the Coeur d'Alene Fire Department.

"If this department is anything like these three individuals, this is where I want to call home," LaVille said.

He got his wish.

LaVille was one of four firefighter/paramedic lateral hires who recently joined the Coeur d'Alene Fire Department.

"I feel like I won the lottery," he said Thursday.

The new hires went through an eight-week academy that wrapped up with two days of live exercises at the department's training facility behind Fire Station 2 off Ramsey Road and Kathleen Avenue.

"It’s been a little difficult, but it’s been worth it," LaVille said as he prepared to go through more fire and emergency medical situations.

Craig Etherton, deputy fire marshal and Cd'A Fire spokesman, said new hires without prior experience start at the bottom and work their way up. Their training time is about four months.

Lateral hires come in with multiple years of experience, have shorter training times and can join shifts sooner.

"We’re training them the Coeur d'Alene Fire way," Etherton said Thursday.

The Coeur d'Alene City Council in September approved a two-year contract with Coeur d’Alene firefighters, Local No. 710, International Association of Firefighters.

The entry-level compensation package for a firefighter paramedic was $116,025. Under the lateral hiring agreement, it went to $142,955.

LaVille's colleagues included Justin McGarvin from Idaho Falls, Cory Miles from the Spokane Valley and Ryan Munson from Post Falls.

They spent Thursday and Friday with experienced firefighters going through scenarios they'll eventually face on duty.

The last day of training included a 17-hour day running simultaneous and back-to-back calls for service.

One situation called for dealing with a fire that started in the garage and spread to a home.

With smoke filling the structure and victims inside, they had to cut through a garage door, break down a door and climb a ladder to enter a second-story window.

They also conducted ice-rescue training at the Riverstone pond Thursday night.

"We want them proficient with all of it," Etherton said.

Miles said their training has been effective.

"I’ve learned a lot more just in these eight weeks," he said.

Munson said they also learned about working together, communicating as a team, and moving quickly and decisively.

"We progressed into putting it all together," he said.

Dylan Clark, Cd'A Fire Department Station 1 driver, was a trainer for the new hires.

He said it's critical they have a good foundation.

"It's one thing to have them come in with experience," he said. "We need to make sure they’re exactly where we need them to be before we allow them to come on the line.”

Clark said all four men did well and one is working his first shift Sunday.

"They are in a way better position at this point than they were on day one," he said.