Members Complete Big Box Building Training

Date: April 26, 2008
By: Firefighter John Morris IV

On Wednesday April 23rd members from the Avondale Fire Company held the first part of the Big Box Building Training. The first part of the training was classroom where the members reviewed pictures and discussed scenarios of how to attack a fire and complete search and rescue operations in a big box building like Walmart. The second half of the training took part on Saturday, April 26th. Members completed the practical part of the exam in an unoccupied box building located next to the Lowe's of Avondale. Here members practiced what they learned in the classroom. Different scenarios of search and rescue were set up. Members also practiced advancing hose lines and staging the proper equipment. Officers got to practice command while some of the younger members got to practice interior operations. The class was a great success. Thanks to Montgomery County Fire Academy for putting on the class. Thanks to Station 36 for allowing us to utilize their cascade system on their air rescue unit.

Units: Engine(S) 23-1, 23-2, Chief 23 and Amb 23-1
Mutual Aid: Air 36

The class touring the unoccupied building..........The first crew getting ready to enter

The first crew utilizing a left hand search.............The second crew utilizing a right hand search

Chief 23's crew utilizing a left hand search..........Search & Rescue crews located a "Bigfoot" down

FF's Mattson & Burgos advancing a line.............RIT crew following a search line to the search
........................................................................... & rescue crew to help with patient removal