Hendricks County Flyer, Avon, IN

Local News

June 19, 2009

Firefighters get real-life training

AVON —



In an area that allows its firefighters to get only limited experience battling flames in houses, trainees were able to gain some valuable experience earlier this week.

The Washington Township-Avon Fire Department were able to run test burns and training exercises at a vacant house in Avon.

“It is a great opportunity,” said Jim Adams, training division chief. “It’s getting harder and harder to get live burn situations. In Hendricks County, we don’t have a burn training tower. The only way that we get to burn and get hands-on for these new guys is coming out and finding a piece of property that the owner is willing to give to us.”

The house, near the intersection of U.S. 36 and County Road 900 East, is on the corner of where the new Lucas Oil Service Center is going in. Because of that, the property needed to be cleared.

Though they have been able to burn at the house for three days, the fire department has been training there since April. Crews have had an opportunity to do search and rescue exercises and basement evacuations.

“Guys have been training in this for the last three months,” Adams said. “We’ve gotten a lot of training out of this. That is a big plus for us because we just don’t have the facilities to do that.

“We have several new guys and now a days, we just don’t have the fires that we had years ago. Equipment is getting better. There are guidelines that we have to follow.”

In order to prepare the house, the fire department had to ensure that there was no furniture in the house. All that can be used in the burning process are skids and straw. Petroleum is also illegal in the burning.

“It’s not like a real fire, where you don’t know the layout of the house,” Adams said. “We train our guys so that if a firefighter pulled up to this house, it is a standard house that was built in the ‘50s and ‘60s. There are some things that we can look at. If the garage is on (the right) end, then we know that the living room is going to be directly in front and the kitchen behind it. It is going to be either a three- or four-bedroom house. Most of our firemen can tell you the layout when they pull up. They can tell you if it has a basement, that’s what we train them to look at.”

Donating a house for fire training purposes is more difficult than it may seem.

“It’s an expense to the property owner,” Adams said. “In order for us to do a live burn, there are state guidelines that we have to follow. Asbestos checks have to be done. It’s quite expensive. That’s all on the property owner.”

But those expenses can be offset by other savings, Adams said.

“(The property owner) get the opportunity to get rid of it,” he explained. “We can burn a piece of property down. If he were to have to tear this down, put it in dumpsters and move it, it may take 30 dumpsters. Where if we can burn it, it may only take five dumpsters. That’s a big savings for him and it’s a two-fold operation. He gets rid of it pretty inexpensive and we get the live, hands-on training.”

Next week the department will be training in another house, just east of this one.

“It’s a great opportunity,” Adams said. “We can go two or three years without one.”



ryan.palencer@flyergroup.com

Text Only
Firefighters get real-life training
by By Ryan Palencer , , Fri Jun 19, 2009, 12:14 PM EDT
Local News
  • news stokes, ben.jpg Couple arrested for burglary in Hendricks County

    Indiana State Police detectives from the Putnamville Post have arrested a Coatesville man and his girlfriend for theft and burglary at a Danville residence.

    September 4, 2010 2 Photos

  • orp ORP under new direction

    Kurt Johnson is still getting used to life in front of the lens. He has no problem with a leadership roleor getting his hands dirty. It’s the interviews and photo opps that have him thrown for a loop, but he’ll have to work through it.

    September 3, 2010 1 Photo

  • Indy airport to host free jazz event

    September 3, 2010

  • news cissi sherlock.jpg Entrepreneur looks to help others in business

    Being on the side of the have-nots once has long empowered Cissi Sherlock to help others get back on their feet.

    September 3, 2010 3 Photos

  • Young talent flocks to 'Annie' auditions

    The Indianapolis Civic Theatre auditioned 89 girls from Indianapolis and surrounding communities for its production of the hit Broadway musical "Annie," which opens the theatre's 2010-11 season, running Sept. 10-25 on the campus of Marian University, 3200 Cold Spring Road.

    September 3, 2010

  • art 1 Arts council hosts annual luncheon

    The Arts Council of Indianapolis hosted its 24th annual Start With Art Luncheon Friday at the Indianapolis Marriott Downtown’s Grand Ballroom.

    September 3, 2010 2 Photos

  • news matts book mug.jpg [you] Ruined It For Everyone

    PLAINFIELD— Matthew Vincent grew up in Plainfield and delivered the Hendricks County Flyer as a boy. These days, however, he’s making headlines himself.

    September 3, 2010 2 Photos

  • Danville mulls county's latest bid to buy former town hall

    The town council here agreed to table the county's latest offer to buy Danville's former town hall after it couldn't agree on whether to accept it.

    September 2, 2010

  • Surveys indicate courthouse's effect on downtown Danville

    Surveys recently conducted by the Indiana University Center for Urban Policy and the Environment indicate that about 12 percent of visits to the downtown here are attributable to the county judicial center.

    September 2, 2010

  • SWMD seeks environmental education award nominations

    The Hendricks County Solid Waste Management District is dedicated to promoting recycling, waste reduction, and responsible waste management within the county.

    September 1, 2010

Facebook
Poll

Do you see any signs of the economy improving?

Yes
No
Not sure
     View Results
AP Video
Community Calendar
Loading…
Events by eviesays.com
Hyperlocal Search
Premier Guide
Find a business

Walking Fingers
Maps, Menus, Store hours, Coupons, and more...
Premier Guide
Popular Searches
Powered by Local.com
Featured Comment