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Story by Assistant Chief
Burton Clark
Photos by Sgt. Phil Clinard
On Sat Feb 23, eight LVFD firefighters participated in Flashover training at the Montgomery County Fire Department training academy. The five-hour training program consisted of one hour of lecture to review the chemistry and physics of flashover and backdraft, the two most dangerous situations that firefighters can face.Four firefighter at a time went into the “can” while the other team served as safety. The entry team spent 30 minutes in the “can” rotating on the nozzle to get up close and personal with the flashover.
Flashover occurs when everything is the room of fire origin reaches its ignition temperature and burst into flames. Temperatures can reach 1000 to 1500 degrees F during flashover.
Firefighters observed the signs of flashover just prior to it occurring. The indicators include heat build up, smoke layering, and gases igniting over head (rollover). The nozzle operator is taught penciling technique to cool the environment below ignition temperature without disturbing the thermal layering to prevent steam burns to firefighters.
The training prepares firefighters to recognize and avoid flashover situation by preventing them or evacuating the location before being caught in a flashover.
All the firefighters reported learning important lifesaving skills and enjoying the training. The LVFD thanks Captain Mike Nelson from the Montgomery County Fire Department Training Academy and his staff for an outstanding learning experience.
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