Approximately 20 members of the fire company completed an Emergency Vehicle Operation course April 28 and 29 sponsored by Utica National Insurance Group, an official said last week.

Fly Creek Fire District chairman Richard Carr said the course featured an eight-hour classroom session on Saturday and an "extensive" driving test Sunday.

"It was very enlightening," he said. "They came out with some points we hadn’t heard."

For instance, he said, they learned that lights and sirens should only be used during absolute emergencies after dark because drivers can become mesmerized and confused by them.

Carr said the purpose of having the Fly Creek emergency personnel take the course was twofold: to keep the fire company’s personnel safe and keep everyone and everything else on the road safe as well.

"You’re driving a very big piece of equipment and if you’re not careful, you can do a lot of damage to yourself and to others," Carr said. "You don’t want to cause an emergency while you’re already on the way to one."