Ready for Action: Dracut Firefighters Conduct Intensive Fire Training in Home Slated for Demolition
DRACUT — Firefighters are donning their turnout gear and Self Contained Breathing Apparatus amid summer heat to search for simulated victims and battle simulated flames inside of a Lakeview Avenue home that is slated for demolition.
Dracut Firefighter Stephen Mullen sprays water on a simulated fire amid smoke inside a home on Lakeview Avenue that Dracut firefighters are using for realistic training this month. Lakeview Family Dentists are allowing the Department to use the home for training throughout this month because it will be demolished soon. (Photo Courtesy Dracut Fire Department)
DRACUT — Firefighters are donning their turnout gear and Self Contained Breathing Apparatus amid summer heat to search for training dummies and to battle simulated flames inside of a Lakeview Avenue home that is slated for demolition.
All Dracut firefighters will participate in intensive fire training this month at 1448 Lakeview Ave., a two-story home owned by Lakeview Family Dentists.
The dentist’s office offered use of the building last month. Firefighters jumped at the opportunity to plan training scenarios that will sharpen their skills.
“We work hard and sweat in training so we’re ready when the real world calls,” said Chief Michael Cunha. “Hands-on training creates muscle memory. It sharpens skills, and it prepares our firefighters to be more effective when lives and property are truly on the line. The Dracut Fire Department and all of its members are committed to training hard so that we’re ready for anything our community needs.”
Firefighters on Tuesday donned their turnout gear and Self Contained Breathing Apparatus (SCBA) in 85-degree temperatures before they headed inside the smoke-filled home to search for three dummies.
Using thermal imaging cameras to find their way, firefighters were able to locate two small dummies and a adult dummy in visibility of less than a foot. Once the search was complete and all three dummies were out of the home, firefighters returned inside with a charged hose line to find and get water on a simulated fire.
Firefighters are taking turns completing similar scenarios all month long, during their regular shifts.
As the month progresses, firefighters will also use the home to practice other skills, such as forcing doors and opening walls to reach interior fires. The more destructive training is being saved for the end.
“I’d like to express our entire Department’s gratitude to Lakeview Family Dentists for providing us with this excellent training opportunity. This kind of training helps keep our firefighters prepared to save lives and minimize property damage,” said Chief Cunha. “We are here to protect our community, and Lakeview Family Dentists made a huge contribution to our efforts to do so by allowing us to use this home.”
Lakeview Family Dentists are allowing the Dracut Fire Department to use this home at 1448 Lakeview Ave., to conduct intensive fire training this month since the home is slated for demolition anyway. (Photo Courtesy Dracut Fire Department)
Dracut Firefighters William Tibbetts and Christopher Leavitt carry a charged hose line into a smoke filled home on Lakeview Avenue in Dracut as part of realistic training that all Dracut firefighters are participating in this month. (Photo Courtesy Dracut Fire Department)
Dracut Fire Lt. Joel Howardcarries a training dummy out of a simulated fire in a home on Lakeview Avenue as part of intensive fire training being experienced by all Dracut firefighters this month. In this training scenario, firefighters had to search the smoke-filled home for two children and an adult who were unconscious inside, using thermal imaging cameras and their hands to search through the blinding smoke. (Photo Courtesy Dracut Fire Department)
Dracut firefighters carry a training dummy out of a simulated fire in a home on Lakeview Avenue in Dracut on Tuesday. In this training scenario, firefighters had to search the smoke-filled home for two children and an adult who were unconscious inside, using thermal imaging cameras and their hands to search through the blinding smoke. (Photo Courtesy Dracut Fire Department)
Dracut Fire Lt. Shane O’Donnell provides care to a training dummy who was pulled from a simulated fire in a home on Lakeview Avenue on Tuesday. (Photo Courtesy Dracut Fire Department)
A view of a handheld thermal imaging camera being used by a Dracut firefighter inside a smoke-filled home that firefighters are using for training this month. Though smoke had lightened when this photo was taken, visibility inside the home was nearly zero when firefighters conducted most of their training. (Photo Courtesy Dracut Fire Department)
Dracut Firefighter Stephen Mullen heads into the darkness and smoke during realistic fire training in a Lakeview Avenue home this month. (Photo Courtesy Dracut Fire Department)