More than 300 firefighters from Minnesota and surrounding states will participate in the Minnesota State Fire, Emergency Medical Services and Rescue School Saturday and Sunday. Participants will gain classroom and hands-on experience in a variety of safety courses designed to enhance performance in community fire departments.

According to a press release, featured training includes reviving your volunteer program by Chief Scott Blue of Carroll County, Georgia Fire and Rescue. Blue will give an overview of how one department rebuilt its volunteer firefighter program and how over the next 16 months, the number of active volunteers increased by more than 300 percent. According to a press release, the class is a must see for those on volunteer or combination services.

Other courses include hoarding fires: piles of danger, garage gires, considerations for today’s fire attack, auto extrication, and basic pump operations.

For a full list of the courses available, visit www.riverland.edu/fireschool.

The event is coordinated by Riverland Community College’s fire training division and is sponsored by Riverland Community College in cooperation with Rochester Community and Technical College and Rochester Convention and Visitor’s Bureau.