Fire training includes actual flames

Firefighters endured temperatures of about 270 degrees Fahrenheit while battling flames inside a specially designed tractor-trailer rig Wednesday as part of a training session that mimics a real structure fire. The blazing bed reached about 1,400 degrees.

Fort Scott and rural firefighters battled blazes inside a tractor-trailer rig, Tuesday and Wednesday evenings, in a training exercise that simulated conditions they would encounter while fighting a fire in the interior of a structure.

The University of Kansas Fire and Rescue Training Institute conducted the training during a four-hour, two-day seminar in the parking lot behind the Hawkins Public Safety Facility, 1604 S. National Ave.

KU's two-person crew travels to different departments throughout the state to train personnel. The institute was created in 1949 by Kansas law, but the semi-truck and trailer is about 2 years old. It cost around $380,000.

"It gives the firefighters a chance to experience real fires under supervised and controlled conditions," Fort Scott Director of Public Safety Jeff Davis said.

Firefighters battled flames in three scenarios that could take place in a structure: a bedroom, kitchen and basement fire. In those scenarios, they fought a flaming mattress and stove. They had to climb on top of the trailer and battle a fire to mimic the basement situation.

About three to four firefighters enter the trailer at a time. One firefighter is designated as a safety officer, who presses and holds down a safety button. If he releases the button, the fire automatically shuts off.

"It's a very safe situation for rookie firefighters and firefighters who haven't seen a lot of fire," Institute instructor Buck Breckenridge said.

Propane produced the simulated inferno that was controlled by computers regulating the amount of gas inside the metal structure.

It's the first time local firefighters have used the trailer, Davis said. He said in the past, firefighters intentionally torched abandoned houses for this type of training, which created a more dangerous situation.

All Fort Scott, nearly all Scott Township and Redfield firefighters participated in the training.

FSFD Capt. Dale Bollinger said the training is "close as simulating as you can get," and added the seminar is excellent for new hires and as a refresher course for veteran firefighters.

The instruction was the first time 22-year-old Scott Township firefighter Stephanie Weddle has seen real-time fire since she began with the department two months ago.

"It's just a really good learning experience," Weddle said.

Scott Township Fire Chief Jackie Messer became involved in the training after discussing it with Davis. This is the first time any of the participating departments have been involved in this type of instruction.

"We've been training a lot of new people, and we want them to see fire in a training scenario before they see fire in a real scenario," Messer said.

A total of 22 firefighters participated by going through the trailer.