By Erica Thomas, managing editor
CENTER POINT — The Alabama Fire College mobile unit made a stop in Center Point Wednesday, April 17, to train firefighters from local districts. Center Point Fire and Rescue invited firefighters from Fultondale, Palmerdale and Trussville to join in on the training.
The mobile burn unit is packed with propane tanks pumping in gas to two burners. A controller inside the unit is able to control the level of fire and can turn off the fire at any time in case of an emergency. Alan Martin, the mobile operator for the burn trailer, said the training is very important.
“The purpose of it is to allow firefighters to train in conditions that are controlled,” he said. “They get to feel the heat, they get to experience the smoke and all that but yet it’s a controlled environment.”
The temperature of the fire can be controlled by the operator and the high-tech system is able to simulate a fire roll, where the fire quickly grows to the ceiling of the unit.
Once the fire is going, smoke is pumped out making it nearly impossible to see what’s happening. It isn’t until you get close to the flames that you can see anything. A tool used to help firefighters navigate is the thermal imaging camera. The handheld device can detect heat, record video and take still images.
Thermal imaging camera
The Center Point Fire District has upgraded its FLIR thermal imaging cameras to gain more resolution and help save lives in emergency situations. The new cameras were used in the mobile unit training.
In order to go inside the mobile unit, firefighters have to dress in full personal protective equipment, the same as they would in a real-world fire situation. That includes a head-to-toe protective suit, boots, a heavy air tank, a shield hood and a helmet. While newer firefighters can become exhausted just from wearing the gear, more seasoned firefighters said they are used to it.
Inside the mobile unit
The training Wednesday also included mayday policy training and RIT (Rapid Intervention Team) policy training. The policy for a mayday is simple. If a person gets trapped or gets low on air, they declare a mayday. At that time, all radio traffic is cleared so they can communicate where they are and what the problem is. The RIT stands guard during firefights and responds when a firefighter goes down or needs immediate attention. Logistics Director Chris Horn with the Center Point Fire District said his department does this training once a year.
“It’s very important to us,” said Horn. “This training is important and our accountability system is a big thing. All of our guys have nametags on their helmets and when we get on a scene, it goes on a board and that way we can keep up with folks.”
The Alabama Fire College makes this training available to fire departments across the state. Everyone that participates gets a certificate and the certification goes towards ISO (insurance rating) points.
There are three trailers available and departments must schedule the training well in advance. Each department decides what specific training they want and what they want to get out of the burn simulator. The fire college designs the scenario the department wants to practice.
The Trussville Tribune had a firsthand look at this training. The video below shows what it was like inside the trailer.
