Live Fire Training – 07/10/10 – Bayfield, CO

Upper Pine Fire District firefighters conducted a live fire exercise on July 10th, 2010 at 1757 US Highway 160B. Members participated in the extinguishing of a number of training fires in the one-story single family dwelling that was donated to the fire district. The condition of the structure required extensive prep work over the last month to assure that environmental and firefighter safety issues were addressed. Fire crews were able to apply their skills in fire attack, water supply operations, exposure protection, fireground communications, and Incident Command concepts.

Prior to starting the exercise, Lieutenant Adolph Young (the Incident Commander) reviewed the Incident Action Plan, broke the firefighters into their team assignments, and provided a safety/accountability briefing. The training, conducted by Chief Rick Graeber stressed the importance of fireground safety and provided the opportunity for the students to observe some fire behavior prior to rotating through the scenarios as the Attack Crew, Back-Up Crew, and the Rapid Intervention Crew (RIC).

After running through a number of different live burns, crews were backed out and the structure was allowed to burn. The training event provided a demonstration of fire department operations for number of local area residents and a unique learning opportunity the Bayfield Town Manager and Town Marshal in participated in the exercise as observers. A post-training critique was held and made available the chance for the firefighters to discuss and reinforce the concepts that were practiced on the fireground.