Do a common set of things uncommonly well.....Tactical Tidbits from Chief Brunacini

 
By Public Information Officer Douglas Medley
April 9, 2012
 

Most every Monday night when we have drill unless we have something special planned you can find our crews down at the Sacco Fire School honing their skills with hose lines, ladders, forcible entry tools and just how a Rapid Intervention Team (RIT) is supposed to work. If you have never been down at the fire school and belong to a fire department in the area you would be wise to have your training officer contact the instructors at the school and maybe set up a drill. Trust me it will not be a waste of your time and a unique take on the job that we do every day. The house that is set up as a maze is great and the ship layout is one of a kind in the United States. You can have a gas fed fire on the lower deck while your crew makes an attack from the second deck down narrow doors and a steep stairway. If you think you won't feel the heat just ask any of our people about that and I can tell you from just sitting in the room I get a few pictures then bail out.
So when we go down we stagger our crews to make sure that we have our first due covered and they are staged at the entrance to the school and when the instructors are ready for them they respond in just like a real call. Out in the country like that you can even use your lights and sirens to get your guys hyped up on the way in. Upon arrival they are given instructions as to what is on fire and if they might have any victims. It really does work out well and after the crew makes their attack they are ready for a break. So then we rotate them out with other crews waiting back at the station.
If you are a firefighter from another station and would like to go with us sometime come on down we would like to have you. We can promise you that we will entertain you and I can just bet you will go back to your own department and see if you can get them to go on down.
A great big thanks to the following instructors of the Sacco Fire School that work with us every time we go down and that's our own President Wayne Johnson and Health Officer Joe Zienda along with Stanley Booth an employee of the school. Without their help it would not be possible to make this happen.
 
Units: Bay District Rolling Stock
 
Mutual Aid: None
 
Driver Jeff Howard on the watch waiting to flow some water.
Driver Jeff Howard on the watch waiting to flow some water.
Receiving last minutes instruction from Wayne Johnson of the Scaco school.
Receiving last minutes instruction from Wayne Johnson of the Scaco school.
 
Crew wrapping up after first attack.
Crew wrapping up after first attack.
Just a shot of the crew going over the previous operation with the instructors. Maze house in the background.
Just a shot of the crew going over the previous operation with the instructors. Maze house in the background.
 
Deputy Chief 3 Stockwell giving his thoughts after first crew came out.
Deputy Chief 3 Stockwell giving his thoughts after first crew came out.
Scaco School Fire Instructors Stanley Booth, Wayne Johnson and Joe Zienda.
Scaco School Fire Instructors Stanley Booth, Wayne Johnson and Joe Zienda.
 
I took this shot sitting in the corner of the burn room and if you don't think it gets hot in there well I can tell you it sure does. I stayed just long enough to click the picture.
I took this shot sitting in the corner of the burn room and if you don't think it gets hot in there well I can tell you it sure does. I stayed just long enough to click the picture.
Joe Zienda at the controls that allow the fire to burn and just how hot he can let it get. There is always someone on another control that can kill the fire at anytime. Safety comes first at the school. He is watching them through a heavy glass window to make sure they are all o.k.
Joe Zienda at the controls that allow the fire to burn and just how hot he can let it get. There is always someone on another control that can kill the fire at anytime. Safety comes first at the school. He is watching them through a heavy glass window to make sure they are all o.k.
 
Next crew rushing into the action. This is very good for the new people. Gives them a first hand experience for a little fire and smoke.
Next crew rushing into the action. This is very good for the new people. Gives them a first hand experience for a little fire and smoke.
Got in there and took a shot of the crew working. Kind of hard to see them but they are there. I stayed a little longer this time cause they had a line on the fire.
Got in there and took a shot of the crew working. Kind of hard to see them but they are there. I stayed a little longer this time cause they had a line on the fire.
 
Santa (Joe Cooper) had some time off and stopped by to check us out. He looks so cool and never misses a drill or meeting.
Santa (Joe Cooper) had some time off and stopped by to check us out. He looks so cool and never misses a drill or meeting.
Shot of the building (ship) showing the stairs that the crews have to advance a line up then into the second floor and find the stairs leading down to the room with the fire in it.
Shot of the building (ship) showing the stairs that the crews have to advance a line up then into the second floor and find the stairs leading down to the room with the fire in it.
 
What do you call a female firefighter? Leah Vallandingham coming out for a blow. Wife of our Captain Steve Vallandingham and she is also one of Patuxent River's (Co.13) finest. She was on the nozzle and let me tell you she was giving her crew a run for their money.
What do you call a female firefighter? Leah Vallandingham coming out for a blow. Wife of our Captain Steve Vallandingham and she is also one of Patuxent River's (Co.13) finest. She was on the nozzle and let me tell you she was giving her crew a run for their money.
Gotta go out the same way you went in.
Gotta go out the same way you went in.
 
Come on Chief Smile. It's drill and everyone showed up.
Come on Chief Smile. It's drill and everyone showed up.
Safety 9 Anthony Thomas setting up the Tower.
Safety 9 Anthony Thomas setting up the Tower.
 
Kind of hard to see but is a shot of Engine responding in running code to hype up the new cadets.
Kind of hard to see but is a shot of Engine responding in running code to hype up the new cadets.
Haul tail up that stairway firefighter. The fire is getting bigger all the time.
Haul tail up that stairway firefighter. The fire is getting bigger all the time.
 
Driver Gary Hanbury setting up Truck 3 for a ladder pipe operation.
Driver Gary Hanbury setting up Truck 3 for a ladder pipe operation.
Training Officer Richard Sullivan after throwing a ladder going back for another one.
Training Officer Richard Sullivan after throwing a ladder going back for another one.
 
Our truck company drivers are expected to throw ladders to.
Our truck company drivers are expected to throw ladders to.
Tillerman Shannon Welch getting out a tool after arriving on the scene.
Tillerman Shannon Welch getting out a tool after arriving on the scene.
 
Truck 3 sticking the 3rd. floor. Come on you got to use your imagination once in a while.
Truck 3 sticking the 3rd. floor. Come on you got to use your imagination once in a while.
Instructor Wayne Johnson taking a short break while his boss Robbie Springer makes sure he is o.k.
Instructor Wayne Johnson taking a short break while his boss Robbie Springer makes sure he is o.k.
 
I think this is my good buddy Vice President and Driver Pat Stanley getting ready to give it a try.
I think this is my good buddy Vice President and Driver Pat Stanley getting ready to give it a try.
Stephen finally gives a smile while telling one of the newbies how it should be done. Thanks Steven.
Stephen finally gives a smile while telling one of the newbies how it should be done. Thanks Steven.