PARRIS ISLAND S.C. -- Parris Island Fire/Rescue conducted training, April 7, in an effort to hone their skills against one of the most hazardous situations a firefighter can face — a flashover.
Unlike many jobs where day-to-day tasks can become boring, the firefighters of PIFR conduct flashover training at least four times a year to allow firefighters the chance to refresh their skills on how to protect themselves against flashover fires.
“Flashover fires are the number one killer of firefighters every year,” said Jack Dean, the assistant chief of training for PIFR.
Dean, of Beaufort, S.C., said PIFR conducts the training with other departments throughout the state of South Carolina to help firefighters recognize the warning signs leading up to a flashover.
“We have the only simulator in the state,” Dean said. “Departments from all over come here to train with us.”
Firefighters used wood blocks, paper and masonite building materials to help create the fire conditions within the simulator.
Once the fires have been lit, the hot smoke within the confined chamber grows in layers. The heat from the smoke layers grows and causes the flammable materials being used to give off combustible gases.
When the temperature in the chamber becomes high enough, the gases simultaneously ignite causing a flashover, an explosive burst of superheated gas.
Dean said this is similar to a real-life flashover fire, which is caused when unburned gases are trapped in a confined space and becomes hot enough to ignite.
Shane White, a firefighter and instructor at the simulator, gave fellow firefighters instructional periods on how to properly recognize the signs of a flashover.
White, of Grand Lake, Colo., showed firefighters a means of checking the temperature to detect a possible flashover.
The firefighter points the stream at the ceiling above the fire. If water does not fall but creates lot of steam the temperature is too hot, White said. Firefighters must leave the area immediately.
He also showed them two hose techniques to cool the fire while, and one
To perform a “penciling” technique, firefighters discharge a short, straight burst of water into an area of a room to cool the fire without disturbing the thermal layering of the smoke.
If the firefighter determines the room temperature will soon become too hot, he or she will use the “aggressive cooling” technique, pointing the hose above the seat of the fire and spraying a wide stream up and down in one motion.
Every safety precaution is taken while practicing these methods the simulator. PIFR uses safety precautions similar to a Quick Reaction Force in the event disaster strikes.
A Rapid Intervention Team, similar to a QRF, is a team of at least two firefighters dressed in full firefighting gear standing nearby with a fire hose ready to leap into action in case safety problems arise inside the simulator.
“The R.I.T. is there in the event something goes wrong and we have to get everyone out of the simulator in a hurry,” Dean said.
Upon exiting the simulator firefighters gather around in a group to critique each other about what they saw in the chamber, said Dave Gouldre, an instructor at the flashover simulator and firefighter with PIFR.
PIFR conducted the training over the course of two days to ensure firefighters are well versed with flashover fires.
Dean said because flashovers are an infrequent occurrence, it remains important to carry out continual training to help keep firefighter skills sharp.