By BOB SHRALUKA
WZBD.com
The Decatur Fire Department recently conducted a three-hour training session at the Country Butcher facility in Industrial Park.
A total of 20 firefighters participated in the training, including 14 paid-on-call firefighters and six full-time firefighters.
Heath Fullenkamp, the department’s training officer, was in charge of the exercise.
H20e said that during the training, crews worked through a simulated commercial structure fire involving a second-story fire with a victim reported inside.
Artificial smoke was used throughout the building to create limited-visibility conditions similar to what firefighters could encounter during an actual structure fire.
Crews were tasked with entering the building, navigating to the second floor, conducting a systematic search, and locating a simulated downed victim, Fullencamp explained.
Once the victim was located, firefighters had to evaluate the situation and determine the safest and most effective way to remove the victim from the second floor. This allowed crews to practice not only search-and-rescue techniques, but also communication, teamwork, victim removal, and decision-making under challenging conditions.
The firefighters also practiced advancing a charged 1¾-inch fire hose through the commercial building and up the stairway to the second floor.
Crews had to maneuver the charged hose through the stairwell and around obstacles while maintaining an effective hose line before advancing to the simulated seat of the fire and completing extinguishing operations, according to Fullenkamp.
The scenario also incorporated audible commercial fire alarms, artificial smoke, and reduced visibility to create additional distractions and make the training environment as realistic as possible.
“Training under these conditions gives firefighters an opportunity to practice coordinating search, rescue, hose advancement, fire attack, and communication before those skills are needed during a real emergency,” Fullenkamp said.
Training is an important part of maintaining the department’s readiness, Fullenkamp added.
The department conducts fire training twice each month in addition to first-responder training once a month.
“These training sessions allow our firefighters to continually develop their skills and work together as a team,” the training officer noted.
“We would again like to thank Country Butcher for supporting the Decatur Fire Department and allowing us to use their facility,” Fullenkamp said.
“Being able to train in an actual commercial structure provides an experience that is difficult to replicate at the station and ultimately helps us better prepare to serve our community when an emergency occurs.
“Having having access to a realistic environment provides invaluable experience for our firefighters.”
About the Author
