Two Kannapolis firefighters have graduated from the prestigious Georgia Smoke Diver Course. Wesley Rigdon and Cody Clark are the first Kannapolis firefighters to graduate from this program and there are only two other firefighters in N.C. who have ever graduated from the course.

The class of 42 members were selected from 650 applicants to participate in the program and only 11 completed the course requirements.

The Georgia Smoke Diver Course is a six-day 60-hour program designed for realistic training in self-survival, firefighter rescue, advanced search & rescue, thermal imaging, emergency procedures, teamwork, discipline, team leadership, situational awareness and decision making as well as how to function within the elements of the Incident Command System. It began in 1978 to decrease firefighter injuries and deaths in the field. Participants pay to take this optional course, which begins with a stringent physical and mental pretest.

The program condenses and replicates the extreme demands that may be placed on firefighters at any incident.  Emphasis is placed on the day-to-day challenges firefighters face at structure fires, multiple-alarm fires and multiple fires within a single shift.  These same principles can be applied to the performance of duties at natural disasters, catastrophic events and acts of terrorism. 

The course is physically demanding and mentally challenging.  Its design allows each candidate to understand and manage their physical and mental limitations under safe but stressful realistic conditions.  Coupled with constant situational awareness drills and forced decision making, the candidate gains condensed experience and therefore can operate more efficiently and safely at incidents. Everything from the amount and type of food and drink is also monitored throughout the course as part of the lessons learned.

The program has a long history of improving the lives and careers of Georgia firefighters, as well as firefighters throughout the nation, through the emersion of servant leadership principles. 

“We are immensely proud of this achievement by Wesley and Cody. This was a personal priority for them and to complete this course on their first try is outstanding. We congratulate them on this prestigious honor,” said Kannapolis Fire Chief Tracy Winecoff.

Wesley, a fire engineer, joined the Kannapolis Fire Department in 2017 and Cody, a firefighter, joined in 2019. Both are at Station 3. Wesley is married to Ashley, who is a Captain at Fire Station 1 and they have two children. Cody comes from a firefighting family, his father and brother are both firefighters