RFD firefighters train with live fire situations this week

By Staff
Melissa Cason
MUSCLE SHOALS- Russellville firefighters experienced a different kind of training with live fire this week as the Alabama Fire College offered live fire training for firefighters throughout the area.
AFC Regional Training Coordinator John James said the training simulator takes the firefighters into a controlled setting to practice techniques used in live fires.
"We have different areas in the training such as a kitchen and basement area so firefighters can be prepared for different kinds of situations," James said. "The heat, flames and steam inside the training are controlled by the instructors and are created by propane gas."
The firefighters first went through the house area crawling on their knees as they would in a real house fire. Each firefighter took turns in front with the water nozzle.
"It's different from a real fire, but it is still good training," firefighter Jonathan Pace said.
Another area of training is the basement fires. Firefighters are taken through a simulated basement fire where they are coming down the stairs and the flames are coming toward them.
"It's good training," Fire Chief Joe Mansell said. "We don't get the opportunity to train on basement fires so this is an excellent opportunity to train with basement fires."
Mansell said his firefighters did well, but it's not about passing or failing. It's about getting out alive.
James said this is the first time the training has been offered on the road, and he will be taking the training to Hamilton next week.
"Starting next year, I'll have the training simulator for a period of two months, and during that time, it will be taken to different areas in north Alabama for firefighters to train," James said.