Firefighters participate in flashover training survival
Pictured is a volunteer firefighter looking on as the the flashover demonstration trailer ignites.
The Boundary County Fire Chiefs Association funded the “Flashover Survival Training” that was held last weekend.
Flashover is created when the sudden spread of fire over an area becomes heated to the flash point. Flash point exists when a room reaches approximately 1,000 degrees Fahrenheit, at which time everything simultaneously ignites.
The training was taught by three instructors and consisted or classroom study on Friday and two days of live burning at Boundary County Landfill.
According to South Boundary Fire Protection District Chief Tony Rohrwasser the Idaho State Fire School owns the trailer used to train the volunteers.
The trailer, which looks like a couple of boxcars stacked, allow firefighters to simulate flashover conditions in an area over the heads of the firefighters inside. It was designed in Sweden and it travels the state, coming to Boundary County every couple of years for crucial training for local firefighters.
This simulation shows them how to recognize the signs of possible Flashover and teaches them to slow the process of fire fighting down enough to exit the area with nozzle techniques.
“This is not something anyone can survive so we teach to recognize the signs and know when to get out,” said Rohrwasser.
“We are grateful to Boundary County Landfill for their great help and use of their space,” Rohrwasser said.
KGT septic assisted with portable bathroom facilities on sire and Home Depot made a generous donation.
The crew from Boundary Volunteer Ambulance were on site and on hand diligently monitoring firefighter vitals all day Saturday and Sunday.
“It took a lot of help from all of the Fire departments with personnel and equipment to make it safe,” Rohrwasser said.