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MIRAMAR, Calif. - Equipped with only fireproof clothing and an Air-Pak containing 30 minutes of usable oxygen, the MCAS Miramar firefighters were put to the test Jan. 19 during a training exercise.
Two firefighters were sent through multiple stations to test their physical fitness with the limited oxygen supply.
While a typical Air-Pak contains 30 minutes of air supply, firefighters are under stress and performing physical activity, reducing the actual usable air by about 50 percent.
"Both of [the firefighters participating] made it to about 15 minutes,” said Garry Flores, a firefighter with the Miramar Fire Department and a Springfield, Mass., native. “This is standard for continuous activity, like they have done today, like you would fighting a fire."
The self-survival tests are conducted to ensure firefighters are not only acquainted with their gear but know its capabilities.
"It's huge for us to be confident and have confidence in our equipment,” said Flores. “As far as repelling with the rope, or we're fighting fire with a hose, all the way down to our Air-Pak.”
This training not only deals with confidence in equipment, but checks physical fitness as well, explained Alex Ramos, a probationary firefighter with the Miramar Fire Department and a Santee, Calif., native.
The test is meant to prepare and put firefighters in the mind state where they have to keep an open mind and keep moving, explained Ramos.
This particular test was conducted for the new firefighters coming aboard, but the firefighters with the Miramar Fire Department are constantly conducting training to always stay ready.
| Date Taken: | 01.18.2012 |
| Date Posted: | 01.20.2012 19:56 |
| Story ID: | 82655 |
| Location: | MARINE CORPS AIR STATION MIRAMAR, CALIFORNIA, US |
| Web Views: | 134 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, Running toward fires: Miramar Fire Department, by Sgt Rebecca Eller, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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