The Times - Serving Waitsburg, Dayton and the Touchet Valley

DAYTON - Firefighter John Watts, with Columbia County Fire District 2 and the City of Waitsburg's department, is living a dream.

"Deep down, everybody wants to be a firefighter," Watts said.

Watts, 39 and living in Huntsville, is a safety officer at the state penitentiary in Walla Walla. Last month, he graduated from a firefighter training academy in the Walla Walla Valley and received the Top Dog Award out of his class of 15 students.

Going through the academy has become Watts' favorite time as a firefighter. He's been a volunteer with the district for three years.

The academy put the students through classes for three hours, twice a week over the course of three months.

"It was a great experience and excellent training," Watts said.

Watts, a graduate of Waitsburg High School, said joining the volunteer department was really a great way for him to learn a new trade and help out his neighbors.

He's proud that the all-volunteer district keeps up with the same training and regulations required for career firefighters. Watts said he got the idea to join from commissioners and volunteers with the district who asked him if he would be interested. There were a few spots open at the time and he was happy to fill a vacancy. Many volunteers serve the maximum of 25 years for the district and when they retire, Watts said someone always steps up.

"When (the older firefighters) start stepping off, you step on," he said.

And Watts feels even more connected to the firefighting community than ever after going through the training put on by Fire District 4 in Walla Walla. Members of the class included firefighters from local districts 3, 4, 6 and 2 and he was able to form friendships with others not just in his department.

And now, he's excited to collaborate with his new friends on larger incidents and mutual aid calls.

Going through the training academy has also made Watts want to strive for more skills and more training to continue to improve as a firefighter. He said he would like to become an expert in the field to try and mitigate hazards related to the job. He said this recent training has really inspired him.

During classes, the group endured physical trainings, learned how to use breathing apparatus as well as full gear and turnouts and participated in live car and structure fires. Also, they got hands-on experience with equipment like fire trucks and hoses.

"It was comprehensive, in your face and really quick," Watts said of the program.

He hopes more of his colleagues can also go through the program. Mostly, the learning is done on-site at structure fires and through others in each department, he said. This academy really gave him an edge.

This was the first time for a member of District 2 to go through this certain fire academy, he said, and he was the only one from the district to attend.

"He was the one that really applied for it," said Scott Johnson, district commissioner. Watts talked with the chief about going through the course and Johnson was happy with the outcome.

"Any time they get training with the people who are doing it for a living is invaluable," Johnson said. "We just don't get that kind of training being volunteers."

And what surprised Watts the most, was earning the Top Dog Award out of his class. At age 39, Watts said he was older than most of his classmates. He said he received the award for his leadership, dependability, teamwork and role as a squad leader in class.

"It felt pretty good being the old guy and keeping up with the kids," Watts said with a laugh.

The expense for the class was covered by the district and Watts said he was so thankful he was hand-selected to attend. He has walked away with an award as well as more confi- dence, knowledge and tactical skills to handle more situations. In class, the students obtained experience in a controlled environment, and he isn't afraid of making mistakes.

"It's a big catalyst to being more engaged as a firefighter," he said.

Johnsons said the cost to send Watts to the training was entirely worth it and he hopes to see more of his volunteers step up and ask for more training.

"If anybody steps up next year, we'd be glad to send somebody," Johnson said.

Watts is now thinking of continuing his training and possibly becoming an EMT or getting into fire investigation. Someday, he would even like to be a fire chief.

At home, Watts has a fiancée, Cara Breland, and three boys and one girl, who attend the Waitsburg School District. He said his family is very proud of him and his youngest son already thinks he's a firefighter.

"I get to live (the dream)," he said. "I want to positively promote the fire service. I love it and I'll continue to do it."