Donated house provides for a great training opportunity

Are you tired of the age-old question, “What’s for dinner”? It’s no different for a training officer in the fire service. We can’t all travel to cool, far away sites due to the response obligation to our residents. It’s too expensive to send our members to every seminar or hands-on training classes available throughout the country.

The seldom change in venue can become quite stale. Most of our training is done in-house at the station or at the shared, live-burn facility (below pic) in Saugatuck. The Nation Fire Protection (NFPA 1001) has hundreds, if not thousands of requirements we need to follow. Firefighters can encounter the most unique situations, so we have to train them to be universal thinkers and doers. The selection of topics are endless.

A couple weeks ago, a local resident called and made us an offer we couldn’t refuse. He had purchased a house next to him that was in pretty bad shape. His goal is to tear it down, but wanted to know if we wanted to use for training.

Our training officer made contact and went to view the house. He determined it was a safe to carry out several scenarios in the next couple months. However, the chimney had a pretty serious lean and was dangerous. The training captain and deputy chief took a rescue engine to the house and used the winch and a chain to pull the chimney down. Prep work finished up soon after, and last night Graafschap Firefighters practiced search & rescue. Homemade manikins were placed in the house and two-person crews were sent in to find them.

The first evolution was in total darkness with their masks being blacked out with a special insert. Next time through, they had full sight with the concentration on speed.

Several brand new members put on their SCBA masks and were “on air” for the first time. The night was an great success due to the enthusiasm of the members. Unlike the fire station, members were not worrying about damaging walls or furniture. When lives are on the line, firefighters must move fast, smoothly and safely.

In two weeks we will be filling the house with smoke and practicing the skill of positive, negative, and hydraulic pressure smoke removal. Each method has a time and place to be used. In the weeks following, we will get newer members up on the roof for ladder placement and vertical ventilation tactics. Finally, we will breach and break doors, turn windows into emergency doors, and practice overhaul (opening up walls and ceilings looking for hidden fires). More pics and stories to follow as we go. Stay tuned!