Since firefighters have visited the Rockland County, NY Fire Academy in past years, they have long wanted to bring the same equipment for training to Maine and Lincoln County.
An “Assistance to Firefighters” grant will make that dream possible, as the $173,340 in federal funds will allow the Lincoln County Fire Academy to purchase a long sought after fire training container. The Lincoln County Fire Chiefs’ Association (LCFCA) has started a fund drive to acquire the 10 percent match needed for the grant.
“We’re very excited,” said Lincoln County Emergency Management Agency Director Tim Pellerin. “This is going to be a huge asset for the county and the region.”
In discussion with Lincoln County fire chiefs, Pellerin said they planned to purchase a flashover simulator firefighters experienced at the fire academy in New York.
A flashover occurs when smoke gets so hot and dense the unburned particulate matter in the smoke explodes into flames. The simulator will help train firefighters to recognize the conditions for a flashover in time to safely evacuate a building.
The simulator at Rockland County looks like a large, metal shipping container. One end of the container houses a metal drum fire. The entire unit is shut off when doors are closed. Instructors control smoke levels and fire through the use of a flue on top of the container. An instructor and about seven firefighters inside the box use a hose to regulate flames and to help keep the heat and smoke toward the ceiling.
Firefighters cook in the 800 degree area inside the box. The flashover section, where the fire burns, can be anywhere from 1200 to 1600 degrees. As fire chiefs have said, even with fire protective gear a firefighter would not survive flashover conditions.
The mobile fire unit the Lincoln County Fire Chiefs’ Association plans to purchase has multiple training capabilities, in addition to re-enacting flashover scenarios. Firefighters will be able to practice knocking out windows and pulling ceilings for ventilation and vertical rescue techniques. The unit will allow firefighters to experience rescue scenarios in confined spaces, basement fire scenarios and other situations.
Pellerin said he believes it will be the only one of its kind in the state. Gorham has a flashover simulator that operates using propane and Pellerin said the closest unit of the kind they plan to obtain is in Pennsylvania. The unit is made by a company in Arizona, Mobile Fire Units, and operates by wood fire. Pellerin said wood fires allow firefighters to see the vapor gasses and thermal layering as the smoke builds with heat.
“You get a more realistic training experience,” he said.
Fire chiefs are looking forward to obtaining the unit, which will be set up at the Gordon Merry Training Facility in Wiscasset, used by the Lincoln County Fire Academy.
“We got lucky enough to land the grant,” said Alna Fire Chief Mike Trask, who has been knocking on doors seeking funds for the grant’s 10 percent match. “The training facility is more regional than it has ever been. This will help out everybody in the county. It’s a tremendous asset.”
Trask’s department is the sponsor of the grant on behalf of the LCFCA. The grant is part of a state-wide Federal Emergency Management Agency “Fire Act” grant which has been made available each year since the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001.
Throughout the state, fire departments collectively received $625,000 from the Assistance to Firefighters grant. According to grant web page information (www.firegrantsupport.com), Whitefield was granted $166,250 for vehicle acquisition. Jefferson Fire and Rescue also received a grant for $26,244 for operations and safety.
Local businesses have already stepped forward to help the LCFCA with the grant’s 10 percent match, which Trask estimates will cost about $19,000. According to Pellerin, Newcastle Chrysler has offered $1000 toward the cause. Hanley’s Construction of Bristol has given $2000 and Ames True Value in Wiscasset has given $5000.
Pellerin wanted to thank all those involved for the collaborative effort in making this dream a reality, with special mention for grant writer Peter Christine.
“This is a collaborative effort of all of the fire departments in Lincoln County, working together for the future of tomorrow,” Pellerin said.
While the LCFCA does not yet have a working plan as far as fire departments in other counties are concerned, Pellerin said the unit, combined with the Academy’s training facility features and programs will benefit mutual aid towns in Lincoln County and beyond.
