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Show Smoke pours from structure, a portable training train-ing class for volunteer firefighters. Fire- TROPIC Volunteer firefighters firefight-ers from all over Garfield County participated recently in intensive flashover fire survival training in a simulator designed to demonstrate the destructive force of the fire phenomenon phe-nomenon that took the lives of 44 firefighters in a 10-year period. Of the 450 overall deaths of firefighters fire-fighters during the same period, more than one-third were volunteer firemen. Allowing firefighters to experience the reality of flashovers under controlled conditions gready increases their chances of surviving one of the most dangerous and potentially po-tentially fatal effects of firefighting, instructors say. The county's volunteers fire fighters took part in training sessions held in Tropic over a two-day two-day period after greater numbers responded to take advantage of learning how to survive the peculiar aspect of structure fires called flashover. The flashover unit is a specially designed semi-trailer with benches at the lowest level for firefighters to observe the way in which a fire reaches the flashover stage and how best to combat it. In 90-minutes of classroom instructions, firefighters were briefed on what to expect after they entered the trailer and doors were closed behind them. The unit and training were developed de-veloped in Sweden by the Swedish National Government as an effort to combat an increasing number of firefighung-associated deaths. The technology was brought to fighters from all over the county took part as they learned about dangers of flashover fires. Firefighter Volunteers Participate In New Flashover Fire Training the U.S. in 1994 where the Fire Resources Board developed the prop currently in use which provides an opportunity for live, hands-on training train-ing with all safety factors built in. Six to eight firefighters, in full gear (boots, turnout coats, air tanks, face masks and helmets) were accompanied by two instructors. Special fiberglass helmets were furnished fur-nished by the state-funded Utah Fire and Rescue Academy which sponsors spon-sors the training. The helmets can withstand the intense heat of the flashover as opposed to the standard-issue helmets which melt in the exercise. Two instructors, also in full gear, seat the volunteers on two rows of planks at one end of the prop. At the opposite end and at a higher level the trailer is fully lined with particle board and a metal barrel with large holes is filled with large wood scraps. The wood is ignited with a propane torch, but no accelerants are needed because the barrel itself acts as seed for the fire that is growing. The heat from the fire rises and the walls and ceiling rapidly begin to absorb the heat as heat vapors become visible. Suddenly, the vapors va-pors ignite, sending a flashover of flames over the heads of the startled firefighters. The burn chamber, is about three feet higher than the heads of the watching firefighters, making it easy for them to observe the thermal layering, dark smoke and air being sucked into the flames. Fascinated, the firefighters watch the vapors ignite, learning first hand the habits of the enemy they fight. Instructors allow the fire to flashover, then cool it down slightly with their hose, and permit per-mit it to heat up again, creating as many as six or seven flashovers until un-til they learn to recognize the telltale tell-tale signs that accompany approaching approach-ing flashover. The instructors teach the firefighters fire-fighters the techniques of hose stream to "buy time" for firefighters to get themselves or others out of a structure before flashover occurs. Instructor Bruce Garrett, Kanab Assistant Fire Chief, is a 10-year veteran of volunteer firefighting and a registered nurse by profession. He said he was particularly impressed im-pressed with the cohesiveness and ready response of the county's volunteers. vol-unteers. He said that normally after a training session, few remain to help with cleanup, but everyone pitched in to assist. He said they obviously take seriously the volunteer volun-teer motto of "Neighbor Helping Neighbor." After each session of training, three volunteers remain suited to go back into the prop and knock down and overhaul it in preparation for the next session. They tear out what remains of the fiberboard and throw it into a waiting dump truck, then put up new board for the next demonstration. (See Flashover; New Fire Training On Page 4A) - Flashover; New Fire Training From Page 1 The Utah Fire and Rescue Academy is supported by Utah Valley State College and the Utah State Fire Marshal. In addition to Garret, assisting were Randy Willden, Murray, full-time full-time Murray City fire training officer; offi-cer; Forrest Jones, Orem, a paramedic and firefighter; Bob Goldhirsch, Cedar City, former fire department chief at Brian Head, employed em-ployed by the Bureau of Land Management in Cedar City; and Bill Mack, a supplier of equipment used in the training session. The Fire Academy is an offshoot off-shoot of a technical fire school started in Provo in the 1960's. It sends out a catalog of courses to fire agencies across the slate. It provides certification for medical and technical rescues, and confined-space confined-space rescues. Tropic Fire Captain Ron Harris and volunteer firefighter Brady Syrett both received flashover training train-ing in August 1994. Harris was so impressed with his own training that he had worked ever since to convince the Academy's instructors that he could get a sufficient number num-ber of interested volunteers together for the course to justify the costs and effort of bringing the rig to Tropic. Harris was successful in assembling assem-bling one of the largest groups ever to participate in the training, requiring requir-ing the instructors and their prop to stay over for a second day of classes. There were seven from Escalante, seven from Henrieville, two from Cannonville, nine from Panguitch, seven from Bryce Canyon, and 14 from Tropic taking part. The training costs $15 per person. Harris said he hopes to send four volunteers to fire school in August. Training costs about $100 per person, with the volunteers volun-teers picking up much of the costs of their own trips. Donations to local volunteer fire departments would be an excellent way for folks to give something back to the town. |