By Lynne Klaft
Telegram & Gazette (Massachusetts)
Copyright 2007 Worcester Telegram & Gazette, Inc.
All Rights Reserved
LUNENBURG, Mass. — Fifteen firefighters and EMTs breached concrete tile walls, ventilated roofs, tore down ceilings and dragged a 200-pound mannequin up and down two flights of stairs...all in a day’s training.
The group did the work as part of a training session at the old public safety building in the center of town. The building is slated for demolition, and the department was given permission to practice techniques and safety drills.
The fire department is mandated by state and federal regulations to train its personnel in first aid, CPR and hazardous materials handling. The LFD also holds training sessions in search and rescue techniques, trench training, use of new equipment, first responder protocol and other specialized training.
Breaking up concrete tile walls with sledge hammers?
“In Hackensack, N.J., in 1984 five firefighters were trapped in a storage room by a collapsing wall, behind a concrete tile wall,” said Deputy Chief David P. Demers, who investigated the incident for the firefighters’ union. “The firefighters could be heard calling for help over the radios before running out of air in 20 minutes.”
“We can make a hole big enough to pull our guys or fire victims out in less than three minutes. It isn’t pretty, but it works,” said Capt. Patrick A. Sullivan.
The firefighters also practiced search and rescue techniques, specifically, how to get an injured or unconscious firefighter up or down stairs in a building.
“Moving an unconscious firefighter up or down stairs is a big issue, what we call `saving ourselves’ training,” said Capt. Sullivan, as he demonstrated the techniques to the group.
The firefighters were also shown techniques for bringing unconscious fire victims or fellow firefighters down a ladder.
Deputy Chief Demers demonstrated the correct technique for cutting holes in floors to search for fire between floors and ceilings.
“There are a lot of voids, especially in older buildings and you can have fire running between the floor and ceiling. We have thermal imaging cameras that can show you the hot spot, but you still have to dig that fire out,” said Capt. Sullivan.
The old public safety building’s second floor was actually the town’s #2 schoolhouse that was dragged by oxen and rollers to town center and hoisted atop the first floor, which housed two engine bays in the early 1900s.
The firefighters were shown the old-fashioned plaster and lath joist systems in the schoolhouse floor. “I’ve seen horsehair plaster on lath, corncob insulation in older buildings, but if you have an attic fire, the best strategy is to attack it from below and ventilate your roof at the same time,” said Deputy Chief Demers.
The Lunenburg Fire Department adopted Incident Command Management systems in 1980, and Deputy Chief Demers says that the system fits with Homeland Security’s National Incident Management System.
“It’s the same structure, and would include not only the fire department, but police, the Department of Public Works, and our town managers,” said Deputy Chief Demers. “All of our men are trained as first responders and know how to be an incident commander until someone more senior arrives on scene.”
“Fighting fires is a manpower intensive operation, requiring at least 15 men on scene even at a simple house fire, according to National Fire Protection Association standards and guidelines,” said Fire Chief Scott F. Glenny.
The department now consists of four full-time members and 20 active on-call firefighters...a far cry from the bucket-brigade volunteers in the early days of the town in the 1700s.
Firefighters today are required to take training at the Massachusetts Fire Academy and have certified physicals and pass a physical ability test, as well as departmental requirements for bi-weekly drills and other specialized training.
The Lunenburg department has two high school interns who are training along side the rest of the men this year.
Alexander E. Mullins and Kyle A. Forrest, both seniors at Lunenburg High School, were present at the training drills and took a turn at climbing the ladders and cutting ventilation holes in the old public safety building’s roof, dragging the mannequin up a flight of stairs and smashing concrete tile walls.
“I love it, there’s always something different to do,” said Mr. Mullins, “And you can immediately see the difference you are making.”
Mr. Forest will be studying fire science and physics at college next year and plans a career in the fire service.
“It’s so important to be able to do this training in an old building like this one, so we don’t have to worry about damaging the walls,” said Chief Glenny.
“Training is so rigorous and so much of it is mandated that it is extremely difficult to recruit and retain qualified on-call firefighters with significant availability in order to protect the town,” said Chief Glenny.