Journey to IFO: Family Day-Structure Fires-Part 2

Jul 14

3 min read

101

Today was Family Day, the instructors turned this up a notch and threw us a couple of curve balls. The rotation was similar to Friday-Structure Fire Part 1. Three evolutions and one round of rehab.

Evolution 1: Direct Attack.

Evolution 2: Search and Rescue.

Evolution 3: Ladders and Forcible Entry.

Dressed to impress in our Bunker Gear and SCBA, the first rotation for C Squad were Ladders and Forcible Entry. Same pairings as before, the boys (Poux and Casey) and the ladies (Maass and Best). When Maass and Best had entry we called it into the IC and the overall evolution continued. Instructor Kinash spent some time with talking us through inward swing right side entry. We've trained on inward left entry. Its a little different and awkward positioning to drive the Halligan with the axe into the frame for prying. Thanks Instructor Kinash for taking the extra time with us at that station.

Then we were sent to rehab and after that a double whammy with Direct Attack and Search and Rescue back to back. Hey, in real time, that's how the story goes. We flanked out the charged hose line (that sh&^ is heavy and normally not charged) to give us enough line to make it up the stairs, into the building, down the stairs, around the corner, down the hallway, taking a sharp right turn to knock down the fire in the 1-2 corner of the building (identified by the search and rescue team, there were two different Squads in the building at the same time, one on search and one on direct attack). After burping that line and checking the pressure, off we went....Firefighter Casey on the nozzle, Poux on the backup, Best third in line followed by Maass. Note third and fourth position are not as easy as you think. Casey entered the building, followed by Poux then Best and Maass. Casey and Poux were careful to take wide turns at the bottom of the stairs and heading toward the seat of the fire. Maass managed the top of the stairs continuing to feed the line and kept an eye on the stairs while Best did the same, kept an eye on the line coming down the stairs and the hallway. Always check for kinks. Communicating is tough. So many noises and moving parts, Casey said move out so Maass stopped feeding the line and headed out of the building while Best headed up and noticed that we had a coupling wedged between the stairs and the wall by the landing. Knowing that the boys were cooking below, I yanked that BIT%$ with every ounce of my being so we could retreat. The danger is real. The responsibility is real. The stress is real and so is the adrenaline that gave me the strength to get that line moving because my brothers were behind me. #teamwork

Onto the last evolution for C Squad. Search and Rescue with irons. Same entry point, we split up at the top of the stairs, Maass and Casey on the upper level, Poux and Best on the lower level. Taking each step backwards sounding as we crawled through the hallway. Poux continued forward, Best searched under the stairs then met Poux when we located a potential victim (mannikin). Poux climbed around the mannikin, Best called the location of the fire into the IC. Then we both worked to remove the mannikin through the nearest door, leaving our tools inside the building as an identifier to where we left off. Best couldn't get under the arms of the mannikin to pull so Poux pushed until Best was able to use some webbing to drag the mannikin to safety out the door. We then returned to the building to retrieve tools then backed out the same door. Casey and Maass identified one required rescue on the top floor and successfully dragged the mannikin to safety. #done.

We rehab'd, dragged, walked, rolled and racked lines then regrouped for debriefing to learn that the temperature in the room was at its PEAK for C Squad at 1200 degrees! I told you it was HOT! GO C SQUAD!!!!

This was a tough one for me, blood pressure was a little high at the end, and our amazing EMS Critical Care nurse took great care of me and finally cleared me to jump back in with the team to clean up. But we did it and we are officially OVER THE HUMP, WAY OVER THE HUMP. Last class is tomorrow, then skills evaluation and the final written exam.

Then bring on Survival Weekend with Instructor Boddie. Things are gonna get really real!

Pics compliments of us, the IFO Summer Cohort and the illustrious Instructor Lewis!