The Austin and District Volunteer Fire Department used a derelict dwelling in Rossendale for some fire practice recently . Two trainers from the S.U.M.M.I.T. Fire Equipment company were on the scene to assist. The firefighters were practicing fire foam applications using the department’s foam generating fire truck. The foam application uses a lot less water than conventional fire fighting methods and is very effective in knocking down the flame and keeping it down. This is extremely valuable for a rural based fire department where a ready source is not always available. One segment of the training involved firefighters taking turns entering the burning building with a heavy air tank called a b/a, short for breathing apparatus, strapped on their back. As the fire rolled up the wall and over the roof toward them they practiced knocking down the flames. This procedure is useful when rescuing someone who may be trapped in a burning room. The whole exercise was beneficial to the department as they had an opportunity to enhance their skills under a controlled environment for a time when it will really count.
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There
was lots of preparation and instruction to make sure everyone knew what to do
Some
outbuildings were burned so everyone could see how effectively the foam worked
Then the breathing apparatus was strapped on.
Everyone took turns
wearing the b/a and crawling into the burning house. When the
flames started rolling over the ceiling the trainer gave the signal to knock
them down.
When the house was fully engulfed in flames two teams each with one fire hose
could
knock all the fire down and enter the building.
