BRINNON — The Brinnon Fire Department recently hosted the Quilcene Fire Department and Mason Fire District No. 17 for a two-day live fire training exercise.
The training was held at a donated building at the Boy Scouts of America’s Camp Parsons
The live fire training has become an annual event for the Brinnon Fire Department.
Recent Brinnon Fire Department Volunteer Academy graduates participated in the 21-hour training.
The first day was centered on becoming proficient in how to search for victims as a team, honing skills such as raising ladders and using ladders and power saws on the roof to create ventilation holes in order to help trapped victims survive.
A portion of the first day was used in learning how to make entry into a burning building, locating the fire room and controlling the fire.
By using powered fans and water flow, firefighters developed skills in removing smoke from burning buildings in order to assist with fire location and victim rescue.
Time was also allocated for firefighters to sharpen skills in pumping water from tenders and portable water tanks, a skill that is difficult to master, according to firefighters.
Day 2 of training included larger fires, multiple hose lines and larger ventilation requirements and concluded with the final burndown of the structure.
The firefighters worked on defensive operations using large hand lines and water-fed deck guns to contain the fire to the building of origin.
