Cherokee County
Fire & Emergency Services
Fire & Emergency Services
Cherokee County Fire & Emergency Services’ Explorer Post 469 traveled to Gatlinburg, TN, on Thursday, February 6th, to participate in the 49th Annual Winterfest Competition. The event took place on February 7th and 8th, at Rocky Top Sports World, drawing over 1,700 Explorers and Venturers from across the nation. This marked the 22nd year that Post 469 has participated in the competition. The post brought 15 youth members, along with advisors and members of the department’s command staff.
Post 469 earned impressive results, securing four top 3 finishes in the competition:
The events featured a range of challenging tasks, including forcible entry, hose deployment, hose crawl, victim removal, and emergent medical treatment, where the Explorers demonstrated their skills and teamwork.
The preparation for Winterfest began in the fall of 2024, with the Explorers dedicating 7-10 hours of training each week. They were mentored by both career and volunteer firefighters who helped guide and develop their skills throughout the training process.
About Fire & Emergency Services Exploring:
Fire & Emergency Services Exploring is a career-focused learning program for young men and women ages 14 (and completed the 8th grade) to 21 who are interested in exploring careers in fire and emergency services. The program offers hands-on experiences, leadership development, and community service opportunities, all aimed at helping young adults choose a career path within fire and emergency services while encouraging them to become responsible citizens.
To learn more about joining Exploring, visit JoinCherokeeFire.com