Firefighters Endure Intense Training to Lower Risk of Tragedy

Roanoke County firefighters train in simulated hazardous situations.
Roanoke County firefighters train in simulated hazardous situations.

Being a firefighter in Roanoke County may not be as difficult and life threatening on a day-to-day basis as it might be in cities like New York or Chicago, but things can and do go wrong. Almost every week there are reminders of that reality, such as the recent news that two firemen lost their lives in New York City because of a ceiling collapse. Firefighters from around the county converged for training at the old Franklin Furniture warehouse behind Tanglewood Mall last week to practice what they should do if trapped in a smoke-filled room, threatened by a ceiling collapse, or pinned under debris.

The Roanoke Fire & Rescue training division staged the event, in a darkened building, with loud music blaring to add to the confusion.  Some firefighters wore visors that did not allow them to see where they were going – simulating a smoke-filled room. In that case they could feel for and follow the fire hose that had been laid out on the floor, allowing them to crawl back to safety.

Others punched holes in walls in an attempt to escape – again without seeing what they were doing, while some, also purposely blinded, crawled up onto a custom-built wooden box that would suddenly flip them upside down, simulating a floor collapse. Deciding when to call “Mayday-Mayday-Firefighter Down,” was the task at hand. Nearby, a group of firefighters worked through practice routines, while another coordinated all of the communication efforts, as they would at the site of a real fire.

Division chief Steve Simon said the old Franklin warehouse was also used for training last year. “We enhanced the props used [this time].”  Simon said the goal was to make sure firefighters protect themselves against the unexpected. The course offered last week was called “Mayday-firefighter down,” and those in attendance came from all over the county. Simon also said the Cities of Roanoke and Salem were invited to observe the training sessions.

“They need to know what to do,” added Simon regarding these life-threatening situations.  It starts with communicating with the person on the scene manning the radio and back to the dispatch center. Learning self-rescue techniques that include conserving the air supply they may have strapped on their backs was another goal. Training exercises were designed to address scenarios that have led to the loss of lives elsewhere recently.

“It’s very panicky,” said Simon of the situations firefighters can find themselves in. “Everything we try to do is train over and over and over, so when the real thing happens they won’t forget.” Roanoke County has a good track record when it comes to the lack of injuries and fatalities suffered while fighting fires, noted Simon – but it doesn’t hurt to be reminded of what could happen. There are about 350 fire fighters (career and volunteer) in the county.

Simon said there was a “close call” during a Cave Spring area fire last year, when one firefighter caught his partner before he fell through a collapsing floor. “He basically saved him – he could have succumbed to injuries.”  Unfortunately the homeowner did not survive in that case.  Last week’s enhanced training was partially designed with that incident in mind.

Firefighter Ron Kovar took his down crawling up a set of stairs onto the wooden box – with his visor covered up – and was flipped six feet down into a pile of foam rubber to cushion his fall. He then had to find his radio and call for help. “The first time through … it was kind of intimidating. I fell head over heels.” Remembering everything he needed to do in a Mayday situation took some time to get right. The fourth year firefighter said being reminded constantly of safety techniques is a good idea: “we train all the time.”

“Never give up and don’t panic,” said Simon, referring to what firefighters must learn to do in a bad situation. “Let your buddies come help you.”

Gene Marrano
[email protected]

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