Skills Testing at the Burn House

admin March 16, 2008 0 Comments

The Colton Fire Department will be burning a house on April 5 as a “Burn To Learn” practice drill. As part of our fire academy, we had the chance to play in the burn house most of the day, practicing search & rescue while using the SCBAs, forcible entry, ladders, and rapid egress through walls. Our Instructor, Kent, along with Miranda & Chris helped us work through the drills.

Brad and Kent working on forcible entry and sounding the roof…

Kent and Jodi securing a foot hold in preparation to vent the roof…

From top to bottom: Miranda, Brad, Jodi & Kent

Jodi & Brad working with the ladder…

Colton’s Emergency vehicles…

Jodi & Brad setting up the positive pressure fan & Kent on the roof…

Miranda footing the ladder in the bushes…

Jodi & Brad join the Colton Fire Department!

admin March 8, 2008 0 Comments

We decided to join the local Colton fire department, made up of nearly 100% volunteers. On February 14th, we kicked off the academy and had to pass a rather grueling fitness test: in full gear with SCBA tanks, we had to walk 4 large laps at a brisk pace, carry 2 fifty pound containers 100 feet, carry a hose up and down a flight of stairs twice, drag a 175 pound body 50 feet, climb a 24 foot ladder twice, and drag a charged hose 50 feet…..all under 14 minutes! Jodi completed her tasks in 8 and a half minutes, and Brad completed his in just over 8! We met with the Fire Chief every Tuesday and Thursday for a month, and now spend most of our Saturdays with Kent, one of the lieutenants/trainers completing practice drills. We should be able to complete the academy within the next few weeks and will be ready to participate in a “Burn and Learn” drill, where the department intentionally burns a house and has the volunteers practice. Once we successfully complete the academy, we will also be issued pagers and will start responding to calls.