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| Training
Evolutions |
Final
Burn
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After nearly
2 months of hard work and vigorous training, the first recruit class
of 2001 was given the chance to show what they had learned. At the
city burn tower we battled 3 floors of intimidating heat, searched
for victims, and practiced over and over the tactics we learned.
I have belonged to Charlie company for the duration of this recruit
academy and our first assignment was to do first floor attack. My
five companions and our instructor took us into a small room where
a pile of pallets burned in the corner. We experimented with several
different water application techniques and found out which one worked
the best for the situation. The pattern that the fire followed was
incredible. First it danced in the corner, growing more intense by
the minute. As we waited for the go ahead from the instructor we watched
it climb the concrete walls and start its' spread over our heads.
The roll over was beautiful as the combustible gases lurked and frolicked
overhead. Then in a brief instant we closed the room up, depleted
the fire of oxygen and started our attack. The flames receded in a
horrifying hiss as we hit it with a combination hose stream attack.
A combination attack is the use of a 45 degree stream of water, starting
at 10 o'clock and circling the fire clockwise very slowly until we
return to the 10 o'clock position once again where we shut the water
down. This technique maximizes the use of our water and also helps
to prevent water damage. We were shown how incorrect water application
could take the thermal layer and force it down on the firefighters.
The thermal layer is a layer of heat created by the fire and can at
times reach temperatures of over 1300 degrees. However we were not
lucky enough to have such a hot environment and I was plenty warm
with the steam bath I was given.
Our next challenge was to find victims on the third floor of the burn
tower. This burn tower was constructed with heat chimneys that allowed
heat to rise from the first floor to the second and third floors.
Due to the fact that heat rises, the third floor was a sweltering
heat sink that made the rescue of the victims a little more difficult.
Using our training we established a search pattern, swept the room,
and found our victims within a few minutes. We dragged them to our
designated point and retreated outside to do a little rehab.
Rehab is the station where firefighters can rest and re-hydrate from
their hard work and calm themselves from the adrenaline-induced environment
they just came from. Medical staff is usually available if a firefighter
feels faint or has any other problems; rehab is an essential part
of firefighting.
Once again Charlie company was introduced into a burn room, where
a much larger stack of pallets burned in the corner. This room was
larger than the first and felt much warmer as well. The nozzleman
held his position in the hallway and shot a small stream of water
in the opposite corner of the fire and surprisingly the fire died
down. Our company raced into the room, did a combination attack, and
within seconds we had the fire knocked down with the use of only a
few gallons of water.
We experimented in this room and perfected our techniques of indirect,
direct, and combination attack and got another lovely steam bath that
even made the instructor quite uncomfortable. As we forced the doors
and windows open we saw the heat escape and felt the room get cooler.
The value of ventilation for firefighting is immeasurable. Without
ventilation it was hot and miserable and we couldn't see more than
a few inches in front of us. With ventilation we could see the fire
on the other side of the room, it was much cooler, and the toxic gasses
and smoke were removed.
Not only was the information valuable but the friends I made through
this 2 month academy are priceless. Whenever I go to other stations
or go on a multi-agency call I will be among friends. That is the
way the fire service is. We are a huge family, looking out for our
own, as well as yours. I can't imagine another field I would like
to work in. If your are adventurous, outgoing, willing to go the extra
mile, hard working and like excitement, I highly recommend the fire
service.
Good luck in your endeavor.
Jessy
Wardwell
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