Don't burn, baby

Photo By Rachel Larue | Firefighters from Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall take part in a training exercise on Joint Base Andrews, Md., Nov. 8, 2014. Firefighters from Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall and Andrews trained in a building designed for repeated fires fueled by wood and excelsior. (Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall PAO photo by Rachel Larue)  

JOINT BASE ANDREWS, MD, UNITED STATES

11.15.2014

Story by Julia LeDoux 

Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall

JOINT BASE ANDREWS, Md. - Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall firefighters dashed into smoke and flames Nov. 8 and 15, during a training exercise at nearby Joint Base Andrews, Md.

“We did live fire training to put a little stress on everybody,” explained JBM-HH Assistant Fire Chief Jon Culberson. “We try to do that annually.”

Four crews from JBM-HH – on Nov. 8 and on Nov. 15 – participated in the weekend training.

Culberson said the training provided the department with the opportunity to not only rotate crews into and out of the sessions, but gave fire department officers a chance to evaluate them in a controlled environment.

“It gives them a chance to work on their processes and procedures,” said Culberson. “It’s better to figure it out in the training than on an actual call.”

Joint base firefighters faced several scenarios during the training. They were called on to not only knock down fires, but to use forcible entry through blocked doors.

“On the interior of the building, someone served as a stoker and kept the fire going,” Culberson said.

The fire was lit with a combination of wooden pallets and excelsior, he continued.

“This stuff [excelsior] looks like a hay bundle, but it’s a packing product and burns cleanly,” Culberson explained. “The days are gone when you use diesel fuel and old furniture. That’s just too dangerous.”

Culberson said temperatures inside the building measured 600 to 1100 degrees.

“We used thermal imaging cameras to take temperature readings,” he said.

Firefighters were briefed on the training the week before and had to ensure they had the proper level of personal protective equipment and stayed safe during the session.

“There’s no hot-dogging; no freelancing during training,” said Culberson.

Joint base firefighters have also trained with the Naval District of Washington, Fort Belvoir, Arlington County, the City of Alexandria and the Metropolitan Washington Airport Authority.

“If they do it right on the training ground, they’ll do it right on the call,” said Culberson.

• Date Taken: 11.15.2014
• Date Posted: 11.21.2014 17:06
• Story ID: 148544
• Location: JOINT BASE ANDREWS, MD, US