FORT PIERRE - Opening day of State Fire School kicked off with an important message from South Dakota Gov. Mike Rounds, "Thank you."
Rounds told about 250 people during the welcome address that he can not imagine what the state would be like if it weren't for its firefighters, most of whom are volunteers.
"Can you imagine what it would be like if we didn't have you?" he asked. "The people who - when everyone else is leaving a disaster - are the ones going in?"
Rounds emphasized there are five paid, full-time fire departments in the state and 358 volunteer departments. Last year, firefighters put out 1,179 wildland fires that burned 315,015 acres of land in the Black Hills area, he said.
"A lot of you do this in such a fashion, that it has become part of a way of life," Rounds said. "You truly do make a difference in the quality of life in our state."
After Rounds' address, Fort Pierre Mayor Sam Tidball spoke to the firefighters, as did chief deputy sheriff for the Stanley County Sheriff's Department, Brian LaCompte. They both had similar messages for the firefighters, welcoming them to town and asking them to enjoy themselves and be safe while they are here.
But LaCompte and Tidball had something in common with the group to which they were speaking as well. Tidball said he spent a number of years on a volunteer fire department, and LaCompte is currently a volunteer on the Fort Pierre Volunteer Fire Department.
State Fire Marshal Al Christie also spoke at the ceremony, and a memorial service followed the opening, paying homage to South Dakota firefighters who have died in the last year.
Though only 250 people were at the opening ceremony and memorial service, many of the firefighters enrolled in State Fire School do not show up until later Thursday evening or Friday morning before their classes begin. Christie reported that 655 firefighters have preregistered for the weekend training and events.
Following the ceremony and memorial service, teams from departments across the state competed in a series of hose races called evolutions. Though the rain and cold made for an uncomfortable afternoon for viewers, many people were at the Expo Center parking lot to see the teams compete.
Evolution results will not be announced until Saturday at the closing ceremony of State Fire School, but results for the two Fort Pierre teams competing were made available.
The women's team, made up of auxiliary members, ran three races. Their times were 31.71 seconds, 51.42 seconds and 60.03 seconds in their races.
The men's totals in their four races were 22.05 seconds, 24.32 seconds, 38.8 seconds and 28.5 seconds.
