Hands-On-Training

General Information

All participants are required to have met there own state standards for operating as an interior structural firefighter and have permission from their own agency Fire Chief to participate in the Orlando Fire Conference. Each participant is required to supply his or her own NFPA compliant, personal protective equipment to include: helmet, coat, pants, boots, gloves, hood and eye protection. If participants wish, they may bring their own SCBA. Participants are also encouraged to bring comfortable eye protection for use in classes such as advanced auto extrication, concrete cutting and breaching, emergency building shoring, etc.

Each participant will take part in 16 hours of hands-on-training over a two day period (Feb. 27 & 28, 2009). Participants have been selected on a first-come, first-served basis for entry into individual classes. The following are brief descriptions of each class:

High Rise Firefighting Operations (8 hours)

Fighting a fire in a high rise presents significant challenges to firefighters.  Students participating in this class will learn about fighting fires from standpipes and the many challenges faced when doing so.  Particpants will conduct hands-on-training with several configurations of high rise hose, packs and standpipe systems.

Fireground Entanglement Emergencies (8 hours)

Taught by Jim McCormack of Fire Department Training Network

This is an intense session designed to prepare you to deal with and survive an entanglement emergency on the fireground. The session starts with a review of entanglement situations that might be encountered and methods to deal with those situations. Once the basics are reviewed and reinforced, more difficult entanglement emergencies are dealt with - including individual collapse and breach emergencies that may be encountered. After dealing with individual entanglement emergencies, the afternoon will be spent assisting or rescuing other firefighters who are entangled. Skills reviewed and reinforced include the swim/sweep technique, partial and complete removal of the SCBA to deal with entanglements, and use of wire cutters and knives. This course will push you to your limit! At the end of the day a short prop-building session will show all attendees how to go back and pass this information on to other members in the department. Students need to bring: Full Turnout Gear (NFPA P.P.E.), SCBA and spare bottle.  (Some SCBAs and bottles will be available.  Please make every effort to bring one from your department.)

 

Thermal Imaging (4 hours)

"Just push the on button and away you go."  Is that the extent of your thermal imaging training.  This class provides an in-depth look at the technology, advantages and limitations of thermal imaging.  Students of this class will get extensive hands-on-training time with several types of thermal imaging cameras.

 

Engine Company Operations (8 hours)

Stretching the first line and getting it into operation is a crucial element in firefighting.  In this course, firefighters will practice different techniques of advancing handlines and getting the right amount of water delievered quickly to the seat of the fire.  Attendees will also learn the value of differents style nozzles for different applications.  Smooth bore versus fog, GPM, hoseline size and selection will all be discussed and applied during this eight hour course.  This is a must for Engine Officers and firefighters.

 

Flashover Simulator (4 hours)

Attendees will be given a brief classroom session that will cover the fundamental concepts of a flashover. Students will also experience a flashover simulator. The simulator is property of Central Florida Fire Academy. A flashover is created in an upper chamber while students safely observe this phenomenon positioned below in a lower chamber. This will be four hours. 

 

Troublshooting Pump Ops (4 hours)

This class wil be provide an overview of common problems related to pump operations and an introduction to the Supply/Pump/Discharge troubleshooting system.  Students are broken into teams, presented with a problem relating to pump operations and asked to identify and solve it. 

 

Truck Company Operations - Power Saws (8 hours)

We all know that the fire wont go out until that first handline is put into operation. However, the Engine Companies can't do their job, unless they have access to the building that is on fire. There is a saying "You Have to get in for the fun to begin", this is where the Truck and Rescue companies come into play. Forcible Entry, Laddering the building, getting behind the fire and performing Vent Enter and Search (VES) and vertical ventilation, all signature assignments of a truck company. For those members of truck companies, or companies that will be performing truck company functions on the fireground, the only way to hone your skills is by hands on training. The truck company operations class at the OFC will allow firefighters to perform functions as if they were on the scene of a structural fire. Students will learn saw types, operation and safety. Students will work "hands-on" making various roof cuts and removings roofing material. Students will learn uses of hand tools for ventilation and how to operate safely on a roof. Students will learn saw types, operation, safety, blade types and uses. Students will learn to operate saws ambidexterously in limited access areas. Students will gain an appreciation for saw operations.

 

Truck Company Operations - Search and V.E.S. (8 hours)

This class will provide an in depth look at searching for victims in the fire building.  Extensive time will be taken to provide participants with skills necessary to conduct Vent, Enter, Search (V.E.S.).  It is because of tactics like V.E.S. that many victims are found in fire buildings.  Students will be provided with instruction, demonstration and ample time practicing these skills in acquired structures.

 

Forcible Entry (4 hours)

We all know that the fire wont go out until that first handline is put into operation. However, the Engine Companies can't do their job, unless they have access to the building that is on fire. There is a saying "You Have to get in for the fun to begin", this is where the Truck and Rescue companies come into play. Forcible Entry, Laddering the building, getting behind the fire and performing Vent Enter and Search (VES) and vertical ventilation, all signature assignments of a truck company. For those members of truck companies, or companies that will be performing truck company functions on the fireground, the only way to hone your skills is by hands on training. The truck company operations class at the OFC will allow firefighters to perform functions as if they were on the scene of a structural fire. Vertical ventilation, forcible entry with both hand tools and power saws, and V.E.S will be covered in this class. Members from the Orlando Fire Department, Tampa Fire Dept., Vallejo, CA Fire Dept, and the Fire Department of New York will be joining in teaching this class.
Remember, any monkey can pull hose, it takes a real man to do truck work!

 

Advanced Auto Extrication (8 hours)

Students will participate in several scenarios where they will learn techniques and practice skills in the following situations: 1. Dash displacement, 2. Vehicle under-ride, 3. Overturned vehicle with complete roof collapse, 4. Door removal techniques, and 5. Vehicle on its side. This is more than your average take the doors and roof class. Students will encounter many different situations and be given the opportunity to use multiple types of tools.

 

Heavy Lift Vehicle Extrication (8 hours)

Students will participate in several scenarios where they will learn techniques and practice skills that will deal with heavy equipment and vehicles.  Attendees will work with air bags, wreckers and more.  Students will encounter many different situations and be given the opportunity to use multiple types of tools.

 

Firefighter Personal Escape (8 hours)

This intensive eight hour training program is designed to provide the student with the skills necessary to survive and escape a firefighter entrapment scenario in a structural firefighting situation. 

Scenarios include disentanglement, low clearance maneuvers, head first ladder bail-outs, room orientation and quick exit, improvised anchors for emergency escape, and rope based escape without a friction device.

Full NFPA Structural Firefighting gear is required for this program.  The student will be placed in reduced/zero visibility situations that simulate a firefighting scenario in an airpack.