Members of Bridgeport Fire Department engaged in a burn exercise this morning; a drill that serves to train firefighters in life-like scenarios. Serving as training officer was Lt. Keith Linger who oversaw operations at the the department’s burn building, located just behind the fire department on Main Street. The burn exercises are regular occurrences and are particularly beneficial when a new firefighter comes on board.

 

“We take them in, light a fire and watch it as it grows and as different stages develop,” Linger said. “We do some stuff with hose lines and different types of attacks and changes in thermal layering.”

 

The department’s newest firefighter is 19-year-old Tyler Harris of Elkins. Today was his first live burn experience. He was trained on fire behavior – how changes in ventilation affect the fire and its location. If a fire is enclosed in one area and a window or door is opened, that air will draw the fire in that direction, Linger explained. That’s an important reminder to keep bedroom doors closed a night because if a fire is contained in one area of the house, it will take more time to travel into that bedroom.

 

In addition to trainees and the instructor, additional firefighters were inside the building for safety reasons. At all times, a firefighter must also remain outdoors to watch operations from that vantage point. The art of reading smoke enables that firefighter to know where in the building the fire is traveling. Today, Lt. Steve Gallo served in that capacity.

 

With a live burn training - or a real fire - temperatures can rise up to 1,000 to 1,200 degrees F. at the ceiling – the hottest point – and as high as 200 or 300 degrees F. on the floor. Live burn training also encompasses rapid intervention training which deals with assisting a fallen firefighter and getting fresh oxygen to him.

 

Typically, live burns are not conducted during cold winter days because the low temperatures cause the smoke to lie low and travel, many times causing alarm within the community.

 

Today’s exercise got under way shortly after 10 a.m. and lasted about two hours. The drills can be quick or lengthy, depending on what areas of training they include. Once lit,  the live burns usually last a couple of hours or more so as to maximize costs. 

 

See more photos of today's live burn exercise in the gallery below.