Training in the fire service is a never ending process. Keeping current on new technologies and techniques while remaining proficient in the basics is critical to the success of any firefighter. In the Leesburg Volunteer Fire Company, training is taken very seriously. From duty crew drills to formal certification classes, our members participate in hundreds of hours of training each year.
In this section we'll present information on some of the training activities we perform. If you have any questions about anything you see in this section, please contact us at
After a delicious spaghetti and meatball dinner, the Engine and Truck, staffed by Crew 1, headed over to Auto Recyclers of Leesburg to do some extrication training. Lt. Gillingham and Master Firefighter Paul Earley coordinated the drill so that the crew could get some hands-on training with the new Amkus Ultimate System on the Tiller. This is one of the most respected new-age extrication systems on the market and our company is fortunate to be able to utilize it. The crew simulated taking doors, cutting posts, clearing windows, and creating a "third door." These basic extrication techniques are good practice for our newer firefighters.
Later in the drill, MFF Earley and FF Durham demonstrated the tool's ability to quickly complete a modified dash roll. With good coordination and skilled operators, this task was accomplished in less than 90 seconds after the roof and doors had been removed. The crew gained some great knowledge through instruction and was able to work extremely well while adjusting to the strength and speed of this new system. A big thanks goes out to Leesburg Auto Recyclers for allowing us to use their lot and giving us a training vehicle. This training always helps our members refine their skills to best serve the community.
To see pictures from the drill, click here. Photos and text provided by FF Andrew Durham, who is apparently a "skilled operator" in more than one sense of the term!
Duty Crew 6 was on deck Sunday, March 30th. As equipment checks were being completed, PFF Swain took the opportunity to climb the 110 ft. aerial on Truck 1 under the supervision of FF Digerlando. The drill was cut short as an MVA with entrapment was dispatched in Company 10's first due. Truck 1 responded with 4 personnel to assist in extrication of the patient. Rescue Engine 10 made quick work of the driver's side as Truck 1's crew removed the passenger's side door and prepared for a dash roll, which luckily was not needed. The patient was removed and flown by helicopter to a local trauma center. The rest of the evening was spent running various fire alarms and EMS assists.
Pictures and story courtesy of FF Brian Duddy.
On November 13th, 2007, Company 1 held a RIT drill at Station 1. As part of the drill, there were simulations of a firefighter down, a "mayday" scenario, and searches of large areas. From all account, the drill was very well done and taught participants quite a lot.
FF Brian Duddy put together a video of the event. You can view it here:
On November 9th, 2007, Crew 6 had an Advanced SCBA Practices drill. This drill ended up being a great Red hat training. The crew was comprised of 5 red hats and one black hat. During these drills, the members performed a "Shake and Bake" exercise which requires them to put their Scott packs together blindfolded and also have them don them blindfolded.
Once this was accomplished, they were advised that the person to their left was out of air and they must perform what we call a "Hot Cylinder Swap". This requires the Firefighter to buddy breath with their partner, while swapping out their air cylinder. The goal is to not let them run out of air (Sorry Roy) during the exercise.
Even know we had a small turn out, the drill went over excellent and was well taken by all participants. All Firefighters did very well, especially for the first time doing certain exercises. Thanks to all that showed up and participated.
On Sunday, November 19th, 2006, Company 1 held a training drill at a donated structure behind Dodona Manor in Leesburg. The Dodona Manor Foundation allowed us to perform training in a building it planned to demolish as part of the work they're doing to restore George Marshall's Leesburg manor home. The drill allowed crews to practice breaching walls, opening roofs, and performing RIT (rapid intervention team) drills. News Channel 8 featured the drill on their newscast on Sunday. You can view the clip by clicking this link.
Company 1's last planned training burn of the year took place early on the morning of October 22nd, 2006 at the Loudoun County training center in Leesburg. Close to 20 hardy souls set out in the chilly morning air for the short trip from Station 20 to the burn pad. Apparently, it was to be "Antique Fire Apparatus Day", as the average age of apparatus at the drill was 23! (Wagon 1, Reserve Engine 1, and Reserve Truck 1.) The theme of the day's drill was the use of high rise packs in multi-story buildings. Crews ran through several scenarios with different entry points and different stand-pipe connections.
On the ouside, rookies were learning how to throw and position ladders on the exterior of the building. Inside, rookie igniters were learning the proper way to set up and ignite pallets in the racks provided inside the burn building. Although the latter sounds easy, getting the timing right so you have the maximum fire when the crew enters the room is pretty tough. There were also issues with a certain chief officer who apparently felt that the fire room was a warming shelter and didn't want to come out.....rookies!
The drill was very successful in opening everone's eyes to the potential difficulties that can be encountered when deploying a highrise pack. Thanks to Lt. Neiberger for organizing this drill, and thanks to Chief Paul Earley for his ideas on the training evolutions. Finally, a huge thanks to Lt. Neiberger and Lt. Fazekas for spearheading all the great training opportunities that were offered this year. We all appreciate your efforts, and the efforts of everyone who assisted you!
For a few pictures from the drill, including many, many pictures of Reserve Truck 1 (there you go, Paul!!!), please click here. (Pictures courtesy of D/C Ian Buchanan, Co. 1.)
Duty Crew 4 was up to bat last night led by Capt. Pete Commanduras. An unusually quiet night for crew 4 gave the opportunity to do some pump training and work with flowing some water to the ladder pipe on Truck 1. With MFF Jeff Dunn at the pump panel of Tanker 1 he was able to show several members of crew 4 some basic pumping operations to get water to the ladder pipe. MFF Jason Dodsen was at the controls of Truck 1 demonstrating how to use the ropes attatched to the ladder pipe to control the direction of the stream.
Pictures and text courtesy of FF Brian Duddy, Co. 1.
MFF Jasen Dodson makes sure everything is rigged correctly
Flowing water from the tip.
Capt. Pete Comanduras and PFF Colin Chapman watch from below.
MFF Jeff Dunn works the pump on Tanker 1.
Firefighter Jeff Mason shows PFF Chapman and PFF Brian Hensley how to stow the ladder pipe's hose.
As kids growing up, we all had those days with our parents where
we thought about how things would be if the shoe
was on the other foot (or maybe, if the paddle was in the other hand!). It's possible that on the night in question,
FF Kay Ann Yahnke was remembering a time when her mom put her on restriction when she wanted to go out. Who knows
her motivations, but the fact is, somehow she talked her mom into being a "victim" for Duty Crew 5's stokes basket drill.
Before we go any further, take a moment to think about your own mother, trussed tightly to a backboard, placed into a sturdy metal basket stretcher, and lifted high into the air with ropes from the end of a ladder. Now, think about how she'd react when you got her about 30 feet in the air and then turned the basket 90 degrees so she was able to look down at the ground and felt like she might tumble out at any moment.
These are the sensations that Kay Ann's mom felt as the crew secured her to a special backboard and secured her to the Stokes basket with plenty of nylon webbing. Once she was properly "tied down", she was carried out onto the ramp in front of Truck 1 where the basket was attached to the waiting rigging. Slowly and carefully, FF Jim Cook raised the ladder to lift our victim off the ground. Once she was about 3 feet off the ground, MFF John Earley, wearing a special harness, attached himself to the rigging for the ride up. Firefighters accompany patients in the Stokes basket when they are having breathing difficulties and may need airway assistance while being moved. The rigging on the basket allows the firefighter to tip the basket about 90 degrees to assist in clearing the patient's airway.
With MFF Earley in position, FF Cook continued lifting...up....up into the night sky. Once they were about 30 feet off the ground, John used the rigging to tip the basket to help Mrs. Yahnke keep her airway clear. (There might have been a little screaming at this point, but we don't want to tell too many stories....)
FF Cook swung the basket out into the grass beside the front apron and lowered the victim and firefighter back to terra firma. We then freed our victim and help her back to her feet. She appeared no worse for wear, and we're sure she'll never forget the ride! The crew learned how to properly rig Truck 1 for this type of rescue, as well as practicing proper back boarding and patient securing techniques. We thank Mrs. Yahnke for her bravery, and we hope she doesn't hurt Kay Ann too much when she gets her away from the fire station!
For pictures from the drill, click here. ( Pictures and text courtesy of D/C Ian Buchanan, Co. 1.)
Duty Crew 9 did a little in-station hazmat drill using some older Level A hazmat suits provided by MFF Marc Timbrook. FF Gittings and FF Jackson (who is a also a hazmat tech) fully suited up including the use of Scott packs for breathing air. MFF Timbrook demonstrated some of the difficulties presented by wearing a Level A suit. Dexterity was one issue, demonstrated by trying to write while inside the suit. Another problem was that the suit "puffs up" like a balloon from air being expelled during normal breathing. The biggest issue turned out to be how hot it gets inside the suit because there is no fresh air circulation. Overall, a great drill and learning experience for the crew.
Pictures and text by FF Brian Duddy.
March 30, 2005
by Jimmy Hill
Photos and video by Capt. Ian Buchanan
Duty Crew 6 held an extrication orientation for their own crew as well as several new members of the fire company this night.
Initially, it was just to have the rookies come out and get familiar with
Rescue Engine 1 and it's tools. Then it blossomed into a down and dirty extrication class. For all intents and purposes,
that's how it turned out. The car was donated by River Creek Towing, who dropped it off, and the next day picked it up free
of charge.
The four main students were Kathleen Duddy, Richard Wolfe, Matt Price, and Alan Battershell. I really hoped to stress safety when working a wreck, and to let them know their role on the scene. That progressed into the tools and their uses. They learned everything from safe battery disarming (from Mike Bucy), vehicle fire extinguishment, using the hydraulic rescue tools, including spreaders, o-cutters, and combination tool. They got the chance to remove glass using the GlassMaster, window punch, Sawzall, and axes. Everyone got the chance to use every tool, and all of them really enjoyed it.
The main purpose of the airbag deployment scenario was to show the extreme danger in working around a vehicle after a crash when the airbags haven't deployed. I know I was amazed, and I think they all now have a serious realization of the hazard. Once again, it was a lot of fun, and I think it sparked a lot of interest, even to those more senior members involved. A special thanks to Joe Neiberger, who took on the operator role, Mike Bucy, who has a great deal of vehicle knowledge, Lt. George Delalian, who showed them roof removal, and to everyone else who came out and helped.
For a video of the airbag deployment, click here.
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| PFF's Matt Price and Alan Battershell work to remove a door. |
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| FF Richard Wolfe lends a hand. |
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| Up on blocks and ready for someone's front yard... |
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| FF Jimmy Hill helps with the removal of the roof. |
February 5, 2005
On a chilly winter night, Duty Crew 7, led by Captain Wayne Whetsell, headed off to the fire and rescue training center
to practice a few firefighter rescue techniques. Using a training mock-up on the pad behind the burn building, the
crew was able to hone the skills that might be necessary in the event a firefighter becomes trapped in a hazardous
environment.
While we all train not to get into situations that put firefighters at risk of becoming trapped, we must also be prepared in case it does happen. Ongoing RIT training is one way to be prepared for any eventuality. Please click here to view a slideshow from the training.
November 20, 2004
The owner of land at the corner of Rt. 7 and the Rt. 15 bypass recently donated three structures for use by the Leesburg
Volunteer Fire Company for a training activity. A large barn, an old farm house, and a wooden shed were all burned as part
of a half-day training activity. Rural water supply and pumper operation were the themes of our training at this drill. With
several recent graduates of our internal pump class needing some practical experience, this drill presented some important
opportunities.
Co. 1 was fortunate to have two firefighters from Lucketts Co. 10, along with Brush 10, in attendance. All together, about 22 people participated. Thanks to Asst. Chief Paul Earley for setting up the drill, as well as handling all the paperwork once again. Thanks to Co. 13 for providing an ambulance crew standby at the scene. And finally, thanks to Joe's Pizza and Subs for the tasty subs after the drill!!
Click here for the slideshow.
October 24, 2004
After having so much fun in September training with a crew from Co. 10, Leesburg's Duty Crew 6 experienced a little "deja vu".
Though the weather wasn't nearly as cooperative, the training was once again worthwhile. Most of the day was spent on
rural water supply evolutions, including quickly establishing a draft from a dump tank and supplying water to an attack pumper.
After that was complete, we moved onto the real fun of the afternoon.
Just like teenagers with a new car or middle-aged men with their mid-life-crisis mobiles, we too always want to know "What'll she do?" In our case, however, it isn't top end or 0-60 times (well, not always!) No, we want to know how much water we can pump through our engines. Each engine is tested at the factory and certified with a gallons-per-minute figure at various pressures. These figures, however, are determined with the vehicle at a draft. Contrary to what some former members of our fire company might argue (and they know who they are!), fire hydrants can provide more water than hard sleeves, assuming they're attached to a water system in good condition.
As we discovered, certain hydrants within Leesburg's town limits are in very good condition! Using Tanker 1, an engine rated at 1,500 gallons per minute at a draft with a single 6" hard sleeve, we were able to pump.....well, check out the slideshow for more details!
Click here for the slideshow.
September 25, 2004
A beautiful Saturday morning made for a great opportunity for a training exercise
involving LVFC Duty Crew 6 and the career staff stationed at Lucketts Station 10. Frances Hazel Reid Elementary
School at 800 N. King St. was the venue, chosen for its proximity to both Co. 1 and 10's service areas. Lt. Pete
Plasmier and Technician John Earley, both assigned to Sta. 10, were working to validate training scenarios for
the career Technician position.
FF John Kurtin from Leesburg was interested in working on pump scenarios, so this provided a great opportunity for all involved. The drill lasted close to 3 hours, with many evolutions of supply and attack configurations executed. It was a great opportunity for the two crews to get to know each other, as it is always a possibility we'll meet on a fireground someday.
Thanks to Lt. Plasmier and Technician John Earley for arranging the drill. Company 1 has always been an advocate of training with our neighbors, and we hope to do more of these activities in the future.
For a few pictures taken during the drill, click here.
September 18, 2004
The construction boom in Loudoun County has been a boon for fire departments
in the county who want to use aquired structures for live fire training. Company 1 has now been the recipient
of three structures this year. The latest one was on Route 7 just east of the intersection of Ashburn Road.
One of our members, FF Justin Holmberg, became aware of this property through his employer, Madigan Construction.
Justin approached Co. 1's Asst. Chief Paul Earley about using the vacant rambler for burn training prior to
demolition. Chief Earley began the paperwork and after three months of work and planning, scheduled a drill.
Since the site was in the Ashburn Volunteer Fire Department's first due area, Chief Earley contacted Asst. Chief 6 Gary Corpuz about participating. The drill date conflicted with Co. 6's Open House, but they were able to send two crews. Chief Earley and Co. 1's Deputy Chief Marty Mantell were in charge of the training session. They ran crews through 9 or 10 scenarios, culminating in two single room fires with extension into the attic. These scenarios allowed the firefighters to practice a fairly common occurrence where a fire starts in a bedroom and extends vertically into an attic space. Crews had to pull ceiling to fully access and extinguish the fire, giving a realistic flavor to the training. After the last attic fire, the structure was left to burn, causing a little traffic congestion on Route 7 as rubber-necking ran rampant!
About 22 people participated in the day-long training, with the participants roughly split between Co. 1 and Co. 6. Hopefully, this cross-company drill will foster a stronger relationship between the companies and be the basis for future inter-company events in the future.
A special thanks to Madigan Construction for allowing us to burn in this structure, and for providing plywood and straw for use during the drill. Also, thanks to Justin for bringing the opportunity to Chief Earley's attention. Finally, thanks once again to Chief Earley for all his work in making this excellent day of training available to so many people.
Click here to see pictures from the drill.
August 7, 2004
Company 1 was fortunate to obtain an abandoned house on Evergreen Mill Road to use for live burn evolutions. The home,
built in two phases, first in around 1790, and then a large addition in the early 1900's, was to be demolished to make way
for a new home. While the owners would have liked to salvage the building, termite damage made that impossible. Due to
the condition of the structure, interior firefighting evolutions would not be possible. Even though we couldn't burn inside,
the house provided great training opportunities due to its construction method (balloon) and unusual materials (tin ceiling,
metal roof).
Another training opportunity presented by the location of the structure was rural water supply. Since the site is far outside of Leesburg's town limits, it is not served by municipal water. This made the use of tankers necessary and provided a chance for our members to learn how to move water using a tanker shuttle.
On the site, at the A/D corner of the main house, was a large holly tree that the property owners wanted to save. We agreed to try, and decided to utilize Class A foam in our efforts to preserve the tree. Company 1 is considering adding this type of foam to our arsenal of weapons used to combat fire. Class A foam is useful on fires involving normal combustibles (paper, wood, grass, hay, etc.) It allows water to penetrate these materials much faster and therefore allows for quicker extinguishment. Applied properly, it can also provide a barrier to fire spread. This is the technique we used to protect the holly.
About 25 of our members participated in this training exercise which ran from 0730 until 1530. We learned a great deal about balloon construction, rural water supply, and the use of Class A foam. We'd like to thank the owners of the property who allowed us to use the house for training. Also, thanks to the Loudoun County Volunteer Rescue Squad (Co. 13) who participated in the training with us as well as provided on-site EMS to ensure our safety. Additionally, a special thanks to Lucketts Volunteer Fire Company and Loudoun County Fire and Rescue for the use of Tanker 10 and Technician John Earley. Last but not least, a huge thanks to Asst. Chief Paul Earley for coordinating the training exercise.
View a slideshow of the training exercise here.
View a video of the last chimney being pushed over at the end of the exercise here.
April 18, 2004
On the first truly hot day of the year, Duty Crew 6 struggled to decide what to do for training.
We had FF/EMT Anthony Jackson on our crew for the day, so we decided to let him choose. Since he is trying to
complete his training on our brush truck, he wanted to train on that piece of apparatus.
Never one to take the simple path, Master Firefighter John Earley devised a training evolution where the diminutive brush truck would supply the much larger engine utilizing a creek for a water source. There were doubters in the crowd, but everyone decided to give it a chance.
Typically, outside fires present many challenges, not the least of which is water supply. Many times, a brush unit will have to be refilled several times as it fights a brush fire. Sometimes, it is not feasibile to get a tanker near to where the brush truck is operating. In these situations, drafting from a water source such as a pond or creek may be the best option. It is up to the vehicle operator to find a suitable water source, position the vehicle for access, and then use the pump to draft water and refill the tank.
Anthony connnects the hard sleeve to the 2 1/2" intake on the rear of brush 1. Ensuring that all connections are tight
and all valves are fully closed is vital to successfully drafting water. Any air leak will result in the loss of vacuum that will limit
the pump's ability to lift water.
Properly submerging and positioning the intake end of the hard sleeve is equally important. It is crucial that the intake be fully
submerged in order to exclude air from the opening. When possible, the intake should be placed on a rock other solid surface that will
keep the intake a few inches of the stream or pond bottom. This will help to ensure that no sand or mud is drawn into the intake, especially
when drafting large volumes of water.
It is always a good idea to attach a rope to the end of the intake. This will assist you in properly positioning the intake, as well as aid
in removing it from the water source at the end of the evolution. Once the intake is properly positioned, tie the other end of this rope to
the vehicle or other sturdy object.
Careful manipulation and operation of the pump throttle, pump primer, and intake and discharge valves is necessary to successfully
draft water. Here, MFF John Earley instructs FF Jackson on the proper operation of these controls.
Once a draft is established, there are many possibilities open to the pump operator. He can refill his tank, operate attack lines, or,
if he's really ambitious, he can supply a much larger vehicle with water. A good pump operator knows what his equipment is capable of in
order to maximize its usefullness on a call. Here, Brush 1 is pumping through Engine 1 to operate a deck gun. Such a configuration may be
unusual, but it illustrates the versatility of fire service pumping apparatus.
As FF / EMT Kay Ann Yahnke and PFF Aaron Crouse operate the deck gun being supplied by Brush 1, Master Fire Fighter Glenn Barnhardt
monitors the pump panel.
On February 7, 2004, members of Leesburg Company 1, Hamilton Company 5, and Loudoun Rescue 13
participated in a full day of training. The day started with an overview of the NOVA manuals and associated procedures
that are scheduled to be implemented in Loudoun County on March 1, 2004. This class, taught by LCFR Battalion Chief Scott
Cullers, took place at Loudoun County Volunteer Rescue Squad's station. Chief Cullers did an excellent job with this class,
teaching us the basics of the manuals as well as imparting some of his extensive tactical knowledge. All agreed they'd love
to have Chief Cullers teach a future class more heavily weighted to fireground tactics and strategies.
After the classroom session, all participants went to Leesburg Fire Company Station 20 for lunch, prepared by 6 of our associate members. Once lunch was complete, Co. 1 and Co. 5 members headed off to 19357 Evergreen Mills Road to the site of our afternoon training. On this site, the Loudoun Jewish Congregation is building a synagogue, and they and the builder donated a house on the property to us for training. The house proved to be an excellent building to use for training. Instead of lightweight materials used in today's construction, this house was built with solid wood, including tongue and groove boards in the floor and roof. It took a lot of effort to burn this house down!
Our training consisted of fire location and extinguishment, fire behavior, and search and rescue. Participants were put into one of five groups, and the groups rotated through various functions throughout the day. Live burning in an acquired structure like this provides invaluable experience for firefighters. On this day, we were able to give several of our newer members experience in a realistic environment, while allowing our more seasoned members a chance to practice their skills. Once the training evolutions were complete, the house was set ablaze to allow for demolition.
Our thanks to Assistant Chief Paul Earley for all his hard work in obtaining this structure and jumping through all the hoops required to allow us to perform live burn training. Also, a huge thanks to Chief Cullers for the morning classroom session. Finally, thanks to our associate members who prepared our tasty lunch!
For a slide show of pictures taken during the drill, click the link that follows. CAUTION: Each slide show contains 15 images, which will preload, so if you're on a slow connection, this could take a while. (Photos in this section were taken by Ian Buchanan)
On October 11, 2003, members of Company 1 and the Middletown Volunteer Fire Company, Middletown, Maryland, participated in a training drill in Arlington County, Virginia. We were fortunate to be allowed to use two aparment buildings that were scheduled for demolition just days after our drill. Located in the 5300 block of 7th Road, these two building offered many training opportunities.
From opening roofs to breaching walls, just about anything was possible. The only thing out of the question was live fire,
though we did make use of some smoke pots in our search and rescue drills. Four main skills were tested during our session:
Throughout the day, we went from station to station, honing our skills in each area. Water supply was somewhat interesting, considering we were "in the city". Hydrants in the area were being used for water supply into occupied dwellings, so we had to rely on tanker shuttles and portable tanks for water. Not what you'd expect considering the location, but it added an interesting dimension to the drill.
All in all, it was an excellent drill, physically tiring, but definitely educational. Our thanks to Arlington County Fire and Rescue for allowing us to take advantage of this facility. Also, thanks to George Delalian and Paul Earley who coordinated our activities. Finally, thanks to the crew from Ashburn Fire and Rescue for filling in at Station 20 while we went to play.
For a slideshow of pictures taken during the drill, click the link that follows. CAUTION: All 17 images in this show will preload, so if you're on a slow connection, this could take a while. (Photos in this section were taken by Ian Buchanan)
The worst situation for a fire department is to lose one of its own. Line of duty deaths are too common an occurrence in the fire service. To try and change this, a great deal of training is being focused on helping firefighters rescue themselves when possible. At the same time, fire ground operations have changed to improve the chances of rescuing a firefighter that runs into trouble. Accountability systems, the incident command system, dispatch protocols, apparatus assignments, and equipment are all areas which are evolving to make sure that we first recognize that someone is down, and then can quickly begin the rescue effort.
Anyone that thinks all of this is easy needs to participate in a drill like the one we held on June 29th, 2003. Captain Dale Hetherington and Lieutenant Charlie Brown, both from the Loudoun County Department of Fire and Rescue, agreed to run the same mayday drill they had previously run for the county's callback training. The drill, which is run at the training center's burn building, involves a scenario where a "run of the mill" fire becomes anything but when a mayday is announced over the radio. From that point on, it is an intense, frustrating, tiring exercise that gives participants a very realistic view of how an actual rescue operation might feel.
The drill starts off with a normal dispatch for a house fire in Co. 5's area. The first unit on the scene (Engine 5) announced they have smoke showing on side A, second level. They are taking an 1 3/4 line through the front door with a crew of 2, going to the second floor. Time of entry is announced. As the next units arrived (Wagon 1 and Chief 2), Engine 5's crew continued to make their way to the fire. Seconds after the chief established command and gave an assignment to Wagon 1, the radio broadcast a sickening message. "Mayday, mayday, mayday, firefighter down. Building collapse in the attic area, two firefighters trapped."
An so begins the most stressful period an incident commander can ever experience. For the next 38 minutes, everything was a blur. Anguished voices over the radio announcing that air supplies are dwindling, the fire is getting closer, and no one is there to help. It becomes painfully clear that a single officer in command cannot possibly handle this situation. As that single officer, I can say that I never want to experience this situation on a real incident. It became impossible to track the movements of any units, accountability became a major challenge, just understanding radio traffic was a major accomplishment. Finally, 38 minutes later, the two firefighters were removed from the building and everyone could begin to relax.
As in any training exercise, feeling that you learned something makes all the pain worthwhile. I can honestly say I've never been involved in a drill that taught me more than this one. If you get the opportunity to participate in an event such as this, take it. You and all the firefighters you work with will be glad you did.
The Leesburg Volunteer Fire Company expresses its sincere thanks to Dale and Charlie for making this training available to us. Additionally, we wish to thank the Hamilton Volunteer Fire Department for covering our area for us while we were training.
For a slide show of pictures taken during the drill, click the link that follows. CAUTION: All 30 images in this show will preload, so if you're on a slow connection, this could take a while. (Photos in this section were taken by PFF Nick Graham. Great job, Nick!!!)
Standpipe systems are common in newer multi-story commercial buildings and structures. They are a critical part of a fire attack on the upper levels of these types of buildings. Training with them, however, is somewhat difficult. Not too many building owners will allow a fire crew to charge their standpipe system and then drag charged hoselines through their buildings! Parking garages, on the other hand, provide the opportunity to perform many of the same skills without destroying valuable property. A little water in a concrete parking structure isn't going to cause any problems.
On Sunday, May 25th, 2003, duty crew 6 took advantage of one of the few dry evenings in this very wet month and went to the Loudoun County Government Center's parking garage to work with standpipes. One of the main reasons for this training exercise was to get used to the new high rise pack configuration that was recently placed on our apparatus. Taking cues from some of the surrounding jurisdictions who have more experience with high rise buildings, we recently reconfigured our packs. The goal of the new configuration was to provide the capability to flow 200 gallons per minute while maintaining a maneuverable line and reasonable pump pressures. Additionally, we wanted the pack to be lighter and easier to carry.
Our new configuration meets all of our requirements. It consists of the following:
All in all, the drill went very well. Everyone learned something, we were able to work with our new equipment, and it didn't' rain!
The drill scenario was that a car in the parking garage was on fire, reportedly on the top deck.
Arriving units would need to deploy a line using the standpipe and the high rise pack. The driver/operator would
need to secure a water supply and make his connections to the standpipe. Part of the drill was to ensure that the
crew could work together to a) locate the fire, b)make the connection on the appropriate floor, and c) advance the
line and extinguish the "fire". In the picture above, you can see (2) 3" lines supplying Rescue Engine 1, while
a single 3" line supplies water to the standpipe system.
Once the
standpipe was charged, it was up to the attack crew to
flush the pipes and make the connections. Rust and other debris could be harmful to the nozzle, possibly causing it to clog. Iron pipes exposed
to the elements will undoubtedly rust, so it should be expected that the water that first flows from the pipe will not be clear. In the
picture to the left, you can see the value of frequent maintenance of standpipe systems. The water that first flowed from this system looked more
like coffee than water.
While the connection was being made on the third floor, the
remainder of the attack crew went up to the fourth floor to find the fire and begin deploying the attack line. Since the "fire" was all the
way across the parking deck, the full 200' of hose line was required. In the picture to the right, you can see the crew working to deploy their
100' feet of attack line. Once the connection on the 3rd floor was made, that crew flaked out the 100' feet of line in their pack, bringing
it up the stairwell and connecting to the remainder of the line already deployed.
Here, the attack crew is getting a
feel for the new nozzle with the 2" line. The line proved to be reasonable to manage while still delivering the desired flow rate of
200 gpm with good penetration and reach.
Now, during a drill like this, how do you know when you're
really in trouble? Well, when the Deputy Chief arrives, you know something's up! The picture to the right shows Deputy Chief Marty Mantell
striding across the parking deck with his most crucial piece of equipment. No, not the radio and not the helmet. What would Starbucks do without
you Marty?
A post-drill analysis is always a good idea to make sure
questions get asked and answered. It also helps to talk about what went well, what might be done differently, and who screwed up. Oops, we don't
really do that!! It's also a good time to find out what kind of latte the chief is drinking tonight!
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