Haddam Fire Members Attend CT State Fire Academy

Submitted by: Bob Norton, Haddam Volunteer Fire Co. Public Information Liaison

Nine members of the Haddam Volunteer Fire Co. attended various training sessions at the CT Fire Academy in June.  The annual June Fire School drew Firefighters from across Connecticut and neighboring states.  Classes ranged from half day seminars to multiple day certification courses.

On Monday, June 6th, several members received certification in Flashover Survival.  After a morning of classroom instruction, Firefighters in full protective gear including self contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) went inside a specially designed building designed to produce flashovers.  A flashover occurs when super heated gasses and particles ignite in a confined area.  Temperatures prior to the ignition reach in excess of 1,100 degrees.  Firefighters with full protective gear can survive a true flashover for no longer than 2 seconds.  Learning the warning signs that a flashover is imminent will save Firefighters’ lives. 

One member took the course “Strategy and Tactics – Everyday Emergencies.”  This course reviewed the hazards that often get taken for granted and should not be overlooked to preserve Firefighter safety.   Another course that a member attended was “Emergency Operations involving Hybrid and Electric Vehicles.”  This course reviewed the additional hazards of high voltage electricity stored in many of the latest vehicles on the road.  Electricity in excess of 300 volts travels from a large battery stored in the rear of the vehicle along the center of the chassis to the engine compartment.  The location of the wires must be considered when Firefighters are using extrication tool, such as the Hurst Jaws of Life, when rescuing victims. 

Six Firefighters received certification in the “Rapid Intervention Team” course.  This is a very intense two day program involving both classroom and practical environments designed to rescue Firefighters who are injured, lost or trapped – or for some reason are unable to leave a hazardous environment on their own.  After the morning classroom session on the first day, Firefighters practiced skills such as converting the SCBA packs to harnesses used in the rescuing of the downed Firefighter, use of ropes and pulleys to raise/lower out of buildings, and practiced lowering Firefighters down ladders from upper stories.  The second day was conducted off-site at a vacant building in Hartford.  The class practiced raising Firefighters through a hole in the floor simulating a collapse into a basement.  The final exam was a scenario where the team wearing completely “blacked out” masks located a downed Firefighter on an upper floor, secured an air source on them, and then removed them from the building with only a rescue rope guiding them out.

Two Haddam Firefighters attended “Station Evaluators Training” and are now authorized to proctor practical certification exams.

At the drill following the June Fire School, members who attended briefed the entire Fire Company on lessons learned.  Additionally, many of the techniques learned will be used during upcoming training sessions at the Fire Company.

Later in the month, Haddam Junior Volunteer Fire Co. member Greg Duval attended the week long Introduction to the Fire Service program where students live at the State Fire Academy for the week in an environment similar to a recruit academy.  They practice living and working together as units.  They attended the New England Association of Fire Chief’s Show in Massachusetts, and a Fire Department parade in Washington, CT.  The week concluded with a demonstration of skills learned by putting out a simulated multiple story structure fire in front of parents and guests.  Greg Duval’s certificate was presented to him by Haddam Volunteer Fire Co. Chief Gary Klare, who along with other members and Junior members attended the graduation ceremony. 

More information on the activities of the Haddam Volunteer Fire Co. and ways you can get involved can be found on our website – www.HaddamFire.com.