A class of more than 20 local firefighters-in-training will receive their level one certification on April 3 and had the opportunity to get some valuable hands-on experience inside the Iowa Fire Service Training Bureau’s traveling interior fire attack simulator last night (Wednesday). The nearly $500,000 trailer is currently parked on 3rd Street just north of the Glidden Fire Station and will remain there until Friday to give departments from around the area the chance to participate. Instructor and former Audubon Fire Chief, John Ballou, says many people do not realize how much training it takes to be a volunteer firefighter in Iowa.
Ballou travels all over the state training firefighters using the mobile unit to simulate realistic scenarios. Artificial smoke is pumped throughout the structure to create zero-visibility conditions and propane gas burners are used to mimic realistic fire behaviors. Temperatures can push to over 200 degrees Fahrenheit in the trailer while in operation. Reed Knobbe with the Breda Fire Department is nearing the end of his training and describes the conditions inside after his first time through.
Glidden Firefighter, Matt Ware, was a part of the crew that responded to the Scranton Manufacturing fire on Feb. 24 and took part in the training Wednesday. While it was a much smaller space than Scranton, he says the conditions inside the trailer were nearly the same.
Glidden Fire Chief, Tom Weber, says opportunities like this benefit local departments in multiple ways.
Members from at least a half-dozen area departments participated Wednesday. Photos and video of the training can be found included with this story on our website.
