| On Saturday April 21 Lieutenants Blizek and Bryant flew out to Indianapolis for the 85th Annual Fire Department Instructors Conference. The Conference runs from Monday through Saturday at both the Indiana Convention Center, Lucas Oil Stadium and numerous off site training locations. This is the world's largest fire fighter conference and offers both hands on and classroom training, as well as allows equipment manufactures to show off their latest products.
Monday's hands on training began with both officers taking the advanced vehicle extrication class. This class was an excellent training opportunity as the department runs a high percentage of rescue incidents. This course covered vehicle stabilization as well as some more advanced forms of extrication including vehicle trunk tunneling and a technique called the oyster cracker.
Following this class Lt. Blizek attended the flashover simulator course where students were able to discuss and learn some points of a flashover and enter the "can". This training environment allows students to experience a flashover safely, one of the hottest and deadliest environments a firefighter can face. For the afternoon hands on course Lt. Bryant attended the engine company operations course where students reviewed water supply principles in both urban and rural environments, selecting the appropriate size hose line and tips for different fire situations and seeing the difference in water flow and nozzle reaction. Students deployed different style hose loads to see how different racks can affect deployment. Students practiced standpipe operations using the 2 1/2" and the optimum movement of lines in standpipe situations.
On Tuesday both officers attended the 8 hour Urban Essentials class. Here students practiced different ways to ventilate peaked and flat roofs. The Milwaukee style roof cut was an innovative method and it was practiced several times. Students also practiced forcible entry on both inward and outward swinging doors, different style locks, as well as the different methods business owners use to secure side "Charlie" of businesses, often the most difficult to force. Commercial security systems were also discussed and forced as well as safe roof operations when working off aerial apparatus.
After opening ceremonies Wednesday the members split up attending different classroom courses covering rural water supply, tactical decisions on the fire ground, adapting to different staffing levels, operating as the first due officer, as well as tasks for apparatus drivers on the fire ground. The training was excellent in all the courses and great information was taken to bring back home for training.
This classroom training was continued Thursday morning before the vendor and exhibit booths open. This allows vendors and equipment manufactures to display their latest products. Officers examined new products looking for ones that could be a future investment for the MVFD. On display at the Pierce was Mechanicsville's own Rescue 2. This was a great honor for our new Piece Rescue to be shown at the convention prior to its final inspection. It received a lot of positive comments and was one of the most viewed pieces there.
Friday morning allowed for more classroom training sessions and one last chance to walk the expo and view the new Rescue one last time. Both officers had a great time, the hands on training classes and classroom sessions were incredible as were the instructors. Being able to attend was a huge opportunity. |
