Trump praises Nassau County volunteer firefighters during academy visit
Donald Trump thanked volunteers at the Nassau County Fire Service Academy, highlighting their intense training and recent emergency deployments.
At a recent appearance at the Nassau County Police Academy, Donald Trump publicly thanked the volunteer firefighters trained at the Nassau County Fire Service Academy, underscoring the realism of their drills. Chief Instructor Paul Wilders, who also leads the North Merrick Fire Department, described the curriculum as weeks of extinguishing simulated blazes in 120-degree conditions and navigating pitch-black indoor mazes.
Trainees undergo three-hour weekly sessions over four months before being assigned to roughly 70 local departments. The academy’s graduates were mobilized for a rare Long Island tornado and for rescuing motorists trapped by floodwaters. Facilities include live-fuel structures, simulated train car fires, and upcoming modules on electric-vehicle incidents. Trump’s remarks were part of a broader effort to support GOP gubernatorial hopeful Bruce Blakeman.
Why it matters
The story shows how volunteer firefighters are trained for emergencies and received high-profile political recognition.
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