Fire Box - 2264

Tonight the members of the Company finished up the second part of standpipe overview for a hi-rise fire. The first part was the lecture on all the pieces that go into the standpipe and sprinkler system, the tools needed for connections and the hose loads that West Grove currently uses. This training was led by Firefighters' Joey Nash and Danny O'Connell. Crews were able to completely staff two engine companies and the ladder, with Rescue 12 staffed and available to handle any calls that may occur in our district.

All the crews gathered at the Ewing Building within the Jenner's Pond Retirement Community for a debriefing of the drill and some key points that the instructors hoped all members would take new information home with. Some of the topics included but not limited to Incident Command Structure, Apparatus Placement, Riding Assignments, Hydrant, FDC and Riser connections, Hoseline stretch and advancement, SCBA Operation and Radio Communications. After each evolution the crews gathered and discussed in further these topics along with others.

The crews assembled onto their proper apparatus and staged in areas pre-determined by the instructors. The dispatch went out across the radio as an automatic fire alarm that was quickly upgraded to smoke in the building upon the first responding units for both evolution's. The first evolution was for a fourth floor apartment making crews understand the time it takes to get all the tools to that floor and the endurance that a firefighters body needs to have to climb four floors. All crews worked until 2130 hours until all units were back ready for service.

A special thanks goes out to all of the Jenners Pond community and to the employees for allowing us to take part in this special drill.