Saturday is normally a nice day to relax, enjoy some nice weather, maybe catch up with some friends and that is no different in the Fire Service. Well, maybe a little different from some. On Saturday September 19th the West Grove Fire Company along with an engine crew from neighboring Union Fire Company assembled at the West Chester Fire Department Training Center and conducted extensive training on hose-line deployment, hose-line management, communications, pump operations and working as a team in extinguishing fires.

There were three scenarios focused on.

Second Floor bedroom fire -- This required the engine crew (4 members) to secure a water source, pull a 200 foot pre-connected hose-line, call for the hose-line to be charged, advance to the second floor, make entry into the fire room, extinguish the fire, cool the room by venting the heat out of a window, placing the fire under control and backing the hose-line out. This scenario was performed by all three engine company crews that participated.

Second floor bedroom requiring access via a ground ladder -- This also required pulling the hose-line, advancing it uncharged up the ladder and staging it in a room adjacent to the fire room, calling for the hose to be charged, advancing to the fire room, extinguishing the fire and venting the heat from the room. The crews then backed out.

Basement Fire -- This also required pulling the hose-line, advancing it uncharged up the stairs. They then finished gearing up, called for the charge and advanced the hose-line down the stairs to the fire room. This type of fire is especially punishing as the firefighters must move down through the heat similar to going through a chimney to get to the fire room. This can get very hot and is a skill that needs to be performed quickly but safely at the same time.

While not actually putting out their own fires the other two crews performed a RIT (Rapid Intervention Team) role or placed their engine back into service for the next evolution and went to rehab. The RIT team role is something that is important at a fire and the WGFC recently spent two weekends in the spring to become Chester County and PA State Fire Academy certified in RIT. A RIT teams only function is to be at the ready to go into a burning building in the event a firefighter or multiple firefighters become trapped or otherwise need help. It is a role that 99% of the time is never used but we still have to be ready for that 1% of the time it can happen.

Overall the day was a success and while tired the crews had some fun, learned something and came away better for the time spent.

Special Thanks to Jim Weber for the photographs.