This week, members of the Attleboro Fire Department conducted hands-on training at a home located at 522 Pleasant Street. The property was generously made available to the department for training purposes prior to its scheduled demolition.
Crews rotated through several realistic fireground scenarios, including ground ladder operations, roof ventilation, victim search and removal, and Rapid Intervention Team (RIT) operations involving a simulated downed firefighter.
Smoke machines were used throughout the training to create zero-visibility conditions similar to those firefighters may encounter inside a structure during an actual fire. Crews were required to navigate unfamiliar rooms, locate and remove simulated victims, and work together under conditions where visibility was extremely limited.
Roof operations also gave firefighters the opportunity to practice vertical ventilation, cutting openings in the roof to help release heat, smoke, and fire gases from a structure.
Training inside an actual residential building provides opportunities that are difficult to fully recreate at a training facility. It allows firefighters to work with real construction materials, navigate an unfamiliar floor plan, practice forcible and coordinated operations, and reinforce communication and teamwork in a controlled environment.
“Training in an actual home gives our firefighters an invaluable opportunity to practice the same skills we may need when someone’s life is on the line,” said Lt. Dan Kirk. “Being able to work in an unfamiliar building under zero-visibility conditions makes the training much more realistic. The goal is to build experience and muscle memory now so our crews are prepared when we’re faced with the real thing.”
The Attleboro Fire Department would like to thank the property owner for providing this valuable training opportunity. These types of donated structures allow our firefighters to sharpen their skills while preparing for the challenges they may encounter during an emergency.
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