By STEPHANIE BRUMFIELD / Staff Writer

WILTON – Firefighters from the Brierfield Fire and Rescue department, which serves areas of Shelby County near Wilton, traveled to Maryland Sept. 20-22 to attend the National Fire Academy to receive special training.

The six firefighters in attendance took classes on fire department operations that emphasized preventing line of duty deaths.

“Several of my guys were so impressed that they wish to go back and take their week-long classes,” said fire chief Spruce McRee.

This is the department’s third year to attend these special weekend classes, which are offered to all firefighters in the state through the Alabama Fire College and the National Fire Academy. Brierfield was one of several fire departments from the state of Alabama to attend along with fire departments from Vermont  and New Hampshire.