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February-March 2005 |
Practical Drills
During my career as a company officer, I came across several ideas that enhanced training opportunities for company members. Although the following list is not complete, it may give you a few ideas to improve your training opportunities. Additionally, the following drills are designed to focus on practical fireground operations only, be practical, informative, and easy for you to implement with a varying degree of effort on your part. They can be modified to fit other types of scenarios and are listed in no particular order. Remember that when using buildings, Saturday and Sunday mornings are the best times (minimal traffic and people) to train in your fireground office!
MISCELLANEOUS
Allow your firefighters to drive back from incidents and/or on selected emergency move-ups, EMS runs, etc.
Use the strengths and weaknesses of your crew to conduct periodic mini-drills (one-half to one hour).
If possible, schedule formal drills at least a month in advance. By the way, how often do you schedule drills with your company members AND conduct the drills as scheduled?
When driving back from incidents, periodically stop and discuss building construction hazards, what ladders or hose would be necessary to reach a specific objective, etc.
When conducting fire prevention inspections, use this time to look at a building from a team, fire-ground-operational viewpoint.
Take pictures (35mm slides or, for the high-tech approach, digital photos) of various buildings or hazards in your district and use in-house (particularly on rainy days) to discuss fireground operations. These drills can be very popular, particularly when members are given different assignments (i.e., engineer, captain, etc.).
Conduct a drill on “Injured On Duty” and “Not Injured On Duty” procedures and have a one-page summary for your crew to keep at home (be ready for members of the two other shifts who also want a copy).
If you are assigned to an engine company:
Have your personnel operate all handlines and master stream appliances with various nozzles to refresh their memory on the capabilities of each combination. Sound simple? If it is, why are most fires (regardless of size) attacked with a 1¾-inch line?
Ensure your personnel are proficient in driving and pumping. That means you could justify their capabilities to a member of the legal profession!
If you are assigned to a truck company, ensure your personnel are proficient in driving and aerial operations.
Dump the apparatus of equipment. First, have each member select a piece of equipment and explain its use as applied to a specific fireground operation (i.e., forcible entry, ventilation, etc). Then, repeat until all equipment has been removed from the apparatus.
Select a building in your district. Park your apparatus in front and mentally build a fire with your crew (as an example: wind is from the north to south, fire in the rear of the structure with some smoke showing from the attic vents, etc.). While standing across the street, have your crew take the apparatus around the block and respond into the building. Your crew will then be responsible for completing an assigned fireground operation (i.e., vent, forcible entry, fire attack, etc.) without your involvement. After the operation is completed:
Have each member discuss their involvement and specific tasks.
Modify any tasks as necessary.
As vacant buildings that will be demolished are a prime training opportunity, contact your building department to see if you can get a list of demolition permits. Need I say more!
If you have access to a drill tower and can set training fires, use this opportunity to occasionally benefit from live fire training. Rotate members through all positions (firefighter, engineer, company officer, etc.).
Dress members in full protective clothing and place a hood over their face-piece (members will see light but nothing else). Practice following hose lines and buddy-breathing techniques. During the drill, consider shutting off members air and see how this situation is handled.
Develop a quiz on specific fireground items/considerations around your station (or applicable location). Let your crew take the quiz; then take them through the quiz. A written quiz with some drawings of specific locations/items of consideration does wonders for this drill.
BUILDING CONSTRUCTION
Look at new buildings under construction.
Look and explore during overhauls and fire prevention.
ELEVATORS
Specifically look for elevators (on the weekends) that you can play with as follows:
Recall buttons.
Elevator operations.
Fire Department operations.
Evaluate electric and hydraulic mechanical equipment.
STRUCTURAL FORCIBLE ENTRY
Concentrate on specific challenges in your district by driving around and discussing problems with your crew. Focus on tools and methods for:
Doors.
Windows.
Security bars.
Fences.
Apparatus access.
LADDERS
Periodically, pick specific buildings and determine what ladders would be necessary to reach a specific objective. This can easily be accomplished on an informal basis while driving the district or returning from an incident.
Dump the apparatus of ladders (particularly a truck company) for time.
SEARCH AND RESCUE
Dress you personnel in full protective equipment with a hood over each face piece. Have personnel search for victims. Focus on team work and using something for a reference point (or whatever method you use). Practice communications, listening for PAL devices, etc.
SALVAGE
Practice covering items with covers, etc.
Make basins, ladder drains, etc.
Suspend a flowing hose in the rear yard of your station and challenge your personnel to contain and/or channel the water flow.
UTILITIES
As the equipment for gas, electrical, and water utilities are readily accessible and are easy to find, drills for utilities are easily accomplished as follows:
Drive the district and locate these utilities. Discuss their operation and appropriate fire service operations.
Take slides of these utilities and discuss their considerations "in-house".
VENTILATION
I have had the best luck drilling for ventilation operations with the following approach:
For PPV, either use a smoke machine in the station and move smoke with your blowers, and/or tape toilet paper (clean) to the top of doorways to graphically illustrate air flow.
Walk the roofs in your district and discuss roof construction, ventilation operations, and use chalk (builder's chalk works the best) to mark appropriate ventilation openings (considering direction of wind, location of fire, and type of ventilation opening).
Either use vacant structures and/or burned structures for "hands-on" practice.
Although this consideration may cost you some money (remember, this could be to your benefit), construct a roof prop for "hands-on" training. Simple props can be constructed of 2x6-inch lumber, in a 8x12-foot size. This allows 3 sheets of plywood on the prop. Use 2-foot legs to keep prop off the ground. Excellent for specific training on use of a chain/rotary saw, and proper cutting techniques.
LASTLY:
Have fun!
Train the way you fight!
Train as if your life depends on it, because it does!
You set the standard!
Chief Mittendorf is the author of the book Truck Company Operations. It may be purchased by returning to the main page and clicking on the book icon. He is also the author of the book Facing the Promotional Interview, which may be purchased by returning to the main page and clicking on “Fire Engineering Books and Videos.”
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