Cherokee Fire Explorers Win 12 Awards at Winterfest

GATLINBURG, TN -- Cherokee County Fire and Emergency Services’ Explorer Post 469 brought home 12 awards during the 43rd Annual Winterfest Competition.

The popular competition, held Feb. 10-12 at the Gatlinburg Convention Center, garnered more than 3,200 explorers and ventures from 17 states take part in the events.

Winterfest is the largest gathering for venturers and explorers, allowing youth between the age of 14 and 21 to participate in a slew of activities during the weekend.

2017 was the 16th year that the fire department’s explorers have attended the event. Post 469 had 18 youth and 15 advisors attend the event.

Also in attendance from Cherokee County Fire and Emergency Services were Fire Chief Tim Prather, Assistant Fire Chief Eddie Robinson and Operations Chief Greg Erdely.

The local post made history this weekend by earning 12 top 3 finishes. They placed first in basic first aid, the Cherokee drill, the EMS combat challenge, high rise deployment, rapid rescue and resuscitate and the Z-drag.

The second place award was obtained in the hazardous materials operations station. Local fire explorers also earned third place in basic First Aid, triple lay, high rise deployment, rapid rescue and resuscitate and table top display.

The competition involved explorers performing tactics such as forcible entry, hose deployment, hose crawl, victim removal, emergency medical treatment and much more.

Participants began training for this year’s Winterfest in September 2016, and averaged seven to 10 hours of training per week. They were also mentored by career and volunteer firefighters who serve as advisors and associate advisors.

“Being able to bring home 12 awards this year from Winterfest just shows you that we have one of the best explorer programs in the southeast," Chief Prather said, who also extended his gratitude to Amicolola EMC and Baker Imaging, LLC for donating $1,000 each to assist Explorer Post 469.

The explorer program is a career based leaning opportunity open to young men and women ages 14 (and completed the eighth grade) and not yet 21 years old with an interest in learning more about careers in the field of fire and emergency services. Its primary goals are to help young adults choose a career path within fire and emergency services and to challenge them to become responsible citizens of their communities and country.

For more information about Explorer Post 469, contact Sgt. Michael Sims at 678-644-1377 or mrsims@cherokeega.com.

Photo 1: (from left) Cadet FF Nick Lindsey, CADET Sgt Wendy Corzo, Cadet LT Kenny Robinson, and Cadet LT Brad Hough use forcible entry techniques to pry open a door during the high rise event.

Photo 2: Cadet Captain Jake Pohlman, Cadet LT Brad Hough, and Cadet LT Kenny Robinson move an immobilized patient through an obstacle course during the EMS Combat Challenge.

Photo 3: Cadet FF Wendy Corzo stands next to a table top display that our explorers placed in

Photo 4: (from left) Cadet FF Griffin Hansen, CADET FF Jensen McColl, Cadet FF Josh Shorts, and Cadet FF Chris Shorts treat an injured patient during a Trauma Scenario.

Photo 5: Front row (left to right): Lt. Mike Caglioni, Capt. Bill Hamby (ret.), Lt. Brad Gravitt, Chief Tom Pelletier (ret) and FAO Jim Laughlin; standing (left to right): Lt. Scott Deal, FF Gary Strobl, Chief Rebecca Strobl, Sgt Kevin Davis, Sgt Stan Ice, Cadet FF CJ Endicott, Cadet Sgt Denver Ice, Cadet FF Fabian Fazzari, Cadet Sgt Wendy Corzo, Cadet FF Chris Shorts, Cadet FF Nick Lindsey, Cadet Sgt Dalton Hamby, Cadet Capt. Jake Pohlman, Cadet LT Kenny Robinson, FF Michele Ice, Cadet Sgt Chad Barday, Cadet FF Griffin Hansen, FF Michele Ice, SGT Michael Sims, FF Trent Nations, Cadet FF Chris Shorts and Assistant Fire Chief Eddie Robinson. Rear (elevated): Sgt Jonathan Gottfried, FAO Corey Deal, Cadet Sgt Hannah Pohlman, Cadet FF Anna Bowyer, Cadet FF Jensen McColl, Cadet LT Brad Hough, Cadet FF Simon Worley and Cadet FF Carlito Mustari.

Credits: Tim Cavender/Cherokee County Fire and Emergency Services