On October 3, 2011, the latest group of seven Park City Fire District firefighter trainees began Recruit Academy 2011. The ten-week intensive training course will features Firefighter I and Firefighter II certification, Live Fire certification, Hazardous Materials Awareness and Operations certification, and PCFD Medical Protocol training. A typical day for these young men begins at 0630 hours with “PT,” afterwards returning back to Station 36 for clean up and vehicle inspections. One to two hours are spent in the classroom reviewing Firefighting Essentials, 5th Edition, which is a comprehensive training guide for new firefighters. Each afternoon focus is placed on the practical application of the morning’s classroom lesson. Then they return to Station 36 for cleanup and equipment rehab with the day ending around 1730 hours.

“PT” consists of strenuous physical activities, including running the 120-meter jump stairs at the Utah Olympic Park and various trails around the area. Each recruit also does 250 sit-ups and push-ups each day to improve his personal fitness level. Team building, self discipline, integrity, trust, and honor are emphasized during all aspects of the Recruit Academy. We also use regional facilities to enhance the training experience and broaden the perspective of the recruits. On October 25-27, we used the Unified Fire Authority Training Facility in Magna for interior structure firefighting and large vehicle firefighting.

PCFD Recruit Academy 2011 is slated for graduation on December 8, 2011. We look forward to long and prosperous careers for each of these fine young firefighters.

Structure collapse rescue training. Click for more.

The Park City Fire District hosted a 40-hour Structure Collapse Rescue training program conducted by Tech Rescue Training of Salt Lake City. Under the watchful eye of a Tech Rescue instructor, members of the PCFD Urban Search & Rescue Team, Chris Pruyn, Darren Nelson, Scott Rapshus, and Justin Jolley, use the basic principles of leverage and inclined planes to move a 5,000 lb. section of jersey barrier. Other topics covered from the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s Urban Search & Rescue Field Operations Guide included FEMA procedures, vertical and horizontal shoring techniques, and the location and extrication of victims of structural collapse. (photo by Mark Hoffman)

Firefighters training on a live fire

Over 30 training fires started

During the week of April 21-25, the Park City Fire District was able to participate in live fire training exercises.  Over 30 fires were started in the former Kids Kampus (or Miss Billie’s) Preschool at 4120 N. Highway 224. These were small one room fires intended to train firefighters in a new tactic called “Positive Pressure Attack”.  This involves coordinating interior fire attack with horizontal positive pressure ventilation from the exterior. In these scenarios, firefighters were placed inside of the room while the fire was developing. They would then observe the effect of proper ventilation on fire conditions. A separate firefighting crew would perform the coordinated attack and extinguish the fire. An immediate review of each fire revealed significantly increased visibility, ease of approach to the fire, and the quick removal of heat and smoke from the fire room. This training experience will help the PCFD to do their job more effectively and improve firefighter safety at the same time.