We smelled it, we lived it, we tasted it and we CRUSHED IT!
Two different skills. Several heart racing, adrenaline pumping evolutions. The anticipating was indescribable.
Let's start with the burn building-this state of the art training center in New Hackensack. Special thanks goes out to the New Hackensack Fire Department for allowing us to train at their facility and the EMS team for taking vitals and keeping an eye on all of us.
First Skill for the evening: The Bonfire.
On the ground floor, we (the cohort, Carmel FD on the safety line, Instructor Boddie, Scagnelli and Gagliardo) piled into the Conex box on the ground floor. The goal was to observe fire through its stages; incipient, growth, fully developed, and decay. How did that go? Well, there is no other way to say this but we were like chicken nuggets toasting in an air fryer. ....In all seriousness, my gut convinced me to jump on air as soon as we lit up, and that beast grew quickly. (The fuel source-hay and pallets). Visibility was limited and the heat cranked (what we thought was cranked and soon learned otherwise). After we talked through the stages and made our observations, the fire was knocked down. Room temperature about 300 degrees.
Second skill for the evening, included three different evolutions. Direct attack on a fire, search and rescue on the second floor and forcible entry-throwing ladders. Everything was buzzing, so many moving parts, teams need to be quick, work in tandem and in constant communication. The first assignment for C Squad-Search and Rescue. We came up with a plan, Firefighter Poux would lead the Squad, followed by Best, Casey and Maass (Instructor Scagnelli and Gagliardo were monitors with the TIC-Thermal Imaging Camera). We entered the building, headed up the stairs and split into groups of two, one to the right to check the hallway and one straight into a room. Firefighter Poux searched the room while Firefighter Best controlled the door and maintained communication with Firefighter Poux. Firefighters Maass and Casey identified a victim. Squad leader Best informed the IC on the radio and we completed the rescue by dragging the victim out the door on the second floor.
We quickly re-grouped, chugged down some water and jumped back on air for the Direct Attack. The original team plan was to follow the same order used when we advanced the hose line drill but switched it up at the door. Firefighter Poux on the nozzle, Casey on the backup, Best following third and Maass fourth. We entered the building (again with monitors) crawled through the hallway made a sharp turn to the right. Best and Maass maintaining control of line, no kinks etc. while Poux knocked it down with Casey as the backup taking most of the pressure on that line. We successfully backed out taking the line with us. That was work. Real work. Room temperature about 850 degrees. Yes I said that and usually its much higher due to the different materials (fuel) contributing to the fire.
We were sent to rehab. Hydrated. Took some selfies because we were pretty damn proud of us!
Last skill, irons and ladders. The ladies were on the irons (Maass and Best) and the guys on the ladder (Poux and Casey). Each task executed off air with success.
After we all completed the evolutions, we walked lines, rolled and racked hose. Took vitals and headed home feeling like a group of badass firefighters in training!
Round 2: Tomorrow, Family Day-Structure Fires.
Enjoy the pics, compliments of US! C Squad!
Yup, I look exhausted in that picture, we were hot, sweaty and trying to cool down in rehab.
#ifosummercohort #csquad #CFFD #family
Failure is not an option.
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