Fire Training -- LNN

By Karsen Marczuk

Video: Lethbridge Fire and EMS recruits’ fire training heats up

May 6, 2021 | 5:06 PM

LETHBRIDGE, AB– The Lethbridge Fire and Emergency Services’ recruits took on fire investigation training during a live burn scenario Thursday.

The new recruits battled two burn cells that were ignited with different fuel sources to demonstrate flame development. Following the session, the recruits performed post-burn pattern analysis.

Heath Wright, Chief Fire Marshall, says the exercise allows recruits to have the ability to be the eyes and ears when going into a fire while being able to recognize different patterns.

“We set up two burn cells, we ignited liquid (gasoline), we also burnt one with normal combustibles (cigarette) and it creates burn patterns, different types of burn patterns as well as heat patterns, and directional patterns. Now, we take them to the next stage and we’ll go through basic fire investigation so that they can recognize basic fire patterns.”

Steven Bergeron, a Lethbridge Fire and EMS recruit, says he is fortunate for having the opportunity to learn fire investigation as not all fire departments conduct this type of training.

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“It’s good for us to be able to see from the fire investigation side of things about how they do their job. They’re not always going to be on scene with us, so if we kind of know-how they need to conduct their job, we can go in and suppress the fire and not mess up the scene so they can do their job after the fire is extinguished.”

LNN captured some of Thursday’s action.

This is Bergeron’s first time doing fire investigation training and he says it’s important to remain calm during these scenarios.

“It’s different in a controlled setting like this. It’s pretty safe, but = when you are walking into a house that is flashing over like that, it can definitely be intimidating. We’ve all got world-class training, we have great instructors, so we know what we have to do.”

However, none of this training would be possible without donations from the public.

Paul Davis Lethbridge provided the furniture for the exercise today. Owner Bruce Galts says this is the first year they have partnered with the fire department, but it’s an important piece of training for new firefighters to receive.

“We are a restoration company, so we come in after the fact and clean up the house and get it back to the condition it was before or rebuild if necessary. So, to see how the fire actually works is an important part of the process. Smoke damage is a big deal as well, so we can see what happens in the space and how it happens, so this is great for us to see and it’s great to be a partner with the fire department on something like this.”

Wright adds they have partnered with three reclamation companies over the past four years allowing recruits to receive hands-on training.

“I want to thank all of them first of all, particularly Paul Davis for this year for donating and giving back to the community and being able to provide real-life training. I can’t thank them enough. I appreciate their ability to realize the importance of having the training to be real and live for our recruits.”

The 2021 recruitment class will finish their formal training at the Lethbridge training grounds in June.