EFD Members Advance Their Skills with Intensive Swiftwater Rescue Training
Three members of the Elkins Fire Department (EFD) are now even better equipped to respond to water emergencies after successfully completing a rigorous Swiftwater and Flood Rescue Technician course.
The intensive three-day training, held near Oakland, Maryland, focused on advanced techniques for navigating fast-moving water, victim recovery, and team safety in hazardous flood conditions. This specialized skillset is critical for protecting both the public and first responders during severe weather events and water-related incidents.
The commitment to continuous training is a cornerstone of professional fire service. According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), firefighters in larger career departments spend an average of 90 hours per year on drill and training activities, ensuring they are prepared for any emergency. EFD civil service and volunteer fighters train almost daily; schedule weekly training sessions; and depending on their schedule, easily complete a total of anywhere between 100 to 200 hours of training annually.
New firefighters train for several hundred hours before they become firefighters, whether they are volunteer or civil services members of EFD.
This recent training underscores the department’s ongoing dedication to achieving the highest level of readiness and service for the Elkins community.
To view a photo essay from this demanding training course, take a look below.
Scroll through the gallery above to view all photos.
An Update on Bulk Item Pickup in Elkins (and the Schedule for Nov/Dec 2025)
Elkins residents who use the City’s sanitation services have benefits beyond weekly garbage collection—including a free monthly bulk item pickup. While the Sanitation Department generally follows a consistent schedule, this hard-working crew occasionally has to adjust it with little notice. These changes […]
Read More
Leaf Collection Season, 2025
This year’s leaf collection season started on Monday, October 13 and weather permitting, runs until Wednesday, November 26. Pickup begins in the heavier areas of the city first; the Street Department will then proceed to go street by street, ward by ward […]
Read More
Demystifying Executive Session: A Look Behind the Closed Doors of Elkins City Council
If you’ve ever attended a City of Elkins council meeting, you may have witnessed a moment where council decides to enter “executive session.” The livestream is paused, the public is excluded, and the meeting shifts behind closed doors. It’s a process that […]
Read More
More Than a Job: Launch a Lifelong Career as an Elkins Water Technician
Answer the Call for a Stable, Essential Career Right Here in Elkins Are you or someone you know looking for a career that’s more than just a paycheck? A role where your work directly supports your neighbors and safeguards our community’s health […]
Read More
The Fall Cleanup Team: Why Elkins Uses Two Different Leaf Collection Machines
As the gold, yellow, and red shades of fall blanket streets in Elkins and across much of the U.S., the rumble of city cleanup equipment becomes a familiar soundtrack of the season. You’ve likely noticed two different types of vehicles on the […]
Read More
Halloween 2025 in Elkins: Trick-or-Treating, Events, & Safety
We’ve seen and heard the chatter and questions, and now we have some answers about Halloween events and trick-or-treating here in Elkins. By no means is this an exhaustive list. If we missed something, contact the City Clerk’s Office! We’ll start by […]
Read More