West Delaware’s Rodgers fighting flames

MANCHESTER - Sophomore Bryonna Rodgers is on fire, pursuing her fire fighting dream.

Rodgers has been training to become a firefighter since her freshman year.

Once a month, she travels to Iowa City to participate in the Youth First Responder Academy Program, a free two-and-half- to three-hour training. Every class is a new experience. Rodgers learns a different skill each month and spends the duration of the class running drills to master it.

'I've always wanted to help people, and fire fighting just felt like the right fit,” Rodgers said.

On Rodgers' first day of the class, she found herself more excited than nervous for the new experience.

'It wasn't as much nerves,” she said. 'I just really wanted to succeed.”

One of Rodgers' favorite days of training was when she learned how to remove victims from a car accident because it's something she will be doing when she becomes a firefighter.

'I've always loved knowing I'll be more prepared when the time comes for me to be a firefighter,” Rodgers said.

Rodgers also enjoys being around firefighters.

'You get to meet people that do what you really want to do and it's exciting,” Rodgers said.

For a week last summer, Rodgers learned a variety of new skills. One day she learned how to fingerprint people. Another, Rodgers was propelled down a manhole. At first she was in disbelief she'd have to descend into a deep, dark hole, but she knew it was necessary.

'They have to train us for small spaces and different atmospheres so we're ready for anything,” Rodgers said.

During the week of training, Rodgers and her class utilized the MILO Range Simulator. The simulator trained Rodgers how to shoot a gun. It gave the kickback of an actual gun and the simulation showed the accuracy of a shot. The class also used the simulator to learn what to do in hostage situations, like how to talk to suspects and when to pull the trigger on them.

'It was kind of nerve-racking,” Rodgers said. 'It (the simulator) really showed you how easily you could take a life that wasn't meant to be taken.”

As a part of the course, Rodgers and her classmates volunteer in the community. They officiated games to raise money for the Special Olympics, helped to direct traffic and directed bikers on RAGBRAI.

While directing bikers last summer, she was able to use her training first hand. Two bikers swerved and hit each other. Rodgers and classmates used what they had learned to help the bikers.

'I was kind of excited because I was able to make sure that they (the bikers) could complete the path and get through Iowa City safely,” Rodgers said.

After high school Rodgers plans to become a firefighter and then further her education by earning her bachelor's degree in fire service administration.

'You really learn your ethics,” Rodgers said. 'You have to be all in if you're going to do this. It's not just a physical thing. It's an emotional thing, too.”