(Le Mars) — October is known as Fire Prevention Month, and the Le Mars Fire and
Rescue Department focuses on fire prevention education efforts for pre-school and
elementary students through the entire month of October, reaching more than 500
students. Fire department officials teach the students not to play with matches or
lighters, never leave a burning candle unattended, and to always have an escape
plan if the fire alarm should sound. Students are taught to leave a burning
structure quickly, and to never go back in. They are also taught to have a
predetermined “family gathering place” if a fire should occur within their homes.
The local fire department distributes hundreds of coloring books, and stickers
that further hit home the point of fire safety.
Recently, KLEM news was invited to a training session of the Le Mars Fire and
Rescue Department to get a better idea of what it is like to be a fire fighter
entering a dark building filled with smoke and fire. The training session was held at the former City Public Works and Street Department Building located on 1st Street Northeast. Nearly every Wednesday evening the Le Mars Fire and Rescue Department trains for at least two hours or more for specific scenarios. For a few minutes, put yourself in the place of a fire fighter. Your pager sounds indicating an alarm is reported at a specific address, and you are notified the alarm is a burning structure. You rush to the fire station. While at the fire station, you put on your pants with suspenders which are already attached with your boots. The coat is next, along with your helmet and gloves. You then board the fire truck. Upon arriving at the scene of the fire, smoke can be seen coming from the building.
You race to put on your 40 pound back pack breathing apparatus with a full face mask. You stretch out a hose and charge it. The first group of fire fighters enters the burning structure to see exactly where and what is burning, and to check to see if anyone is still inside. They may have to conduct a search and rescue for someone trapped by the fire. As a fire fighter, your heart is pounding and your breathing is more labored. Plus
your adrenaline is running high. As you enter the burning structure, you feel
the heat from the fire, but you are uncertain as to where exactly is the fire. In
addition, the smoke is so thick that you literally cannot see your hand in front
of your face.
It is dark, and your flashlight equipped on your helmet doesn’t seem
to penetrate through the smoke. You are also carrying a hand-held infrared camera
to help locate the fire, as well as to locate any human inside. You approach
quickly, but carefully, not knowing the many dangers that perhaps are only steps
away in your path. Many times the conditions warrant you to crawl on your hands
and knees.
You do this for many reasons. First, smoke rises, so staying near the
floor offers a better view of the scenario, allowing you to see further. Second,
the fire itself is likely to rise. Third, you may be better able to “feel” and
sense a potential danger zone. Since it is difficult to see, you need to rely on
your other senses to guide you through the fire. You don’t know if there is a hole
in the floor, or a weak spot due to the burning structure. Another possibility is
there may be something in your path, such as a chair, a toy, or anything which may
cause you to trip or fall. Your water hose is your safety line. You hold on to it
because it literally is your lifeline. However, after being in the burning
structure for a few minutes you quickly realize your hose is not long enough for
tackling the fire.
A second team of fire fighters is notified of the fact your hose is not long enough. They enter the burning structure and follow your hose line to locate the first team of fire fighters, and to continue with the search.
Another problem arises while inside trying to battle the blaze. You hear a bell
ringing coming from your backpack, indicating your oxygen tank is near empty.
Smoke still fills the area, but you know you must follow your hose line and back
track to escape the smoke-filled burning structure.
What was just described is a common scenario that the Le Mars Fire and Rescue
Department, or any fire department for that matter, has encountered. Remember to
think fire safety all year round. As you are rushing out, fire fighters are
rushing in.
