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Another Training Prop For Bay District
By Public Information Officer Douglas Medley
June 2, 2015
On May 30, 2015 a nice and hot morning some of the cream of the crop of officers of our department met with representatives of the company that produced our newest training prop a flashover simulator. Now many of our officers had heard about this newest training prop and again our training officer Richard “Sully” Sullivan took the lead and investigated it further to the extent our department board of directors approved the purchase of one.
After it was delivered and set up it was time for the leaders on the operational side of the department to meet with some of the instructors of the company to learn just how it was to be utilized. Before the company would turn over the operation of the flashover simulator we had to be able to provide at least 10 trained instructors and that is what we had for both the classroom and hands on operation. The classroom lasted for about 2 hours then it was time to gear up and head out to the training area at the rear of station 3. I think that all that were there for the class were very impressed with the instructors and by the end of the day were all more than tired and ready to call it a day.
From what I observed during my time there was it will be a great learning experience for our firefighters and I know they can hardly wait for those Monday night drills. I’m sure that once we have time to get more experience on the prop that our training officer Sullivan will be glad to make it available to other departments all they have to do is give him a call.
Would like to thank the instructors Justin Dulworth and Wes Sitton who are both firefighters from Oklahoma City and work park time for the company that makes the simulator. In talking to them they were both very impressed with our training tower and the plans that Sully has for the rest of the site i.e. drafting area and who knows what else he might have in mind for the area.
Plenty of classroom before getting to play.
As you can see we had the cream of our crop in the classroom. Taking the course was Chief Gould, Asst. Chief Warren, Deputy Chief Stockwell, Capt. Burroughs, Lieut. Thomas, Safety Officer Johnson, Sgt. Sewell, Training Officer Sullivan, Firefighter/Paramedic Wayne Johnson, Jr., Firefighter/Engineer Bussler were those in the class.
Giving the instructor their undivided attention.
The idea of the simulator is to learn these signs.
This is it. Higher part is the burn room.
The guys just walking around and checking out stuff.
Sully, J. T., and the fire chief discuss some items.
Joined by CoCo Sewell.
Safety Officer Johnson giving it a once over.
Some last minute instructions before beginning the burn.
Asst. Chief Warren (Mighty Might) bringing over some plywood for the burn.
Safety 3 Johnson stuffing the burn barrel.
Senior Johnson and Junior Johnson filling the burn barrel.
Cutting up some pallets to burn.
Captain Burroughs with the chain saw making short work of pallets.
Enlarge and read the writing in red. That is what we plan on doing and that is why they were doing the training.
More instructions from the teachers. They were very careful not to miss anything.
These were our associates who brought re-hab for the firefighters and they were going to need it. Lauren Johnson and her crew, Christy Bixby, Mrs. Theden, and Jamie Olson.
Getting geared up and ready to go in.
All geared up with the Fire Chief up front. It looks a little crowded and it is. The belly of the Beast....
The instructor getting ready to light off the barrel.
This is the cool way that the lines are passed into the prop/
Took a shot of the vent system on top. This is closed.
When it gets to hot they open it up.
Now you see that smoke boiling you know its hot in there.
Door cracked just a little bit. If you don't think that gets hot in there just ask any of the guys that were sitting in there.
Coming out to take a blow.
More of the same. The instructors advise everyone not to touch one another because their gear is that hot. Believe It....
Safety 3 stripping down to get a rest. These guys did this all day long and now they are ready to lead the rest of our firefighters in training on the Flashover Simulator.
Many thanks to those ladies for having plenty of cold water and snacks. This was the only shady spot behind the tower.
