Glen Canyon National Recreation Area Hosts Successful Structural Firefighter Refresher

Trainees observe fire behavior during structural firefighter refresher.

NPS/D VAN INWAGEN

After a two-year pause, the NPS Structural Firefighter Refresher course was delivered at Glen Canyon Recreational Area (NRA) on February 22-24, 2022. Structural firefighters from Glen Canyon NRA, Glacier Bay National Park, Zion National Park, and Big Bend National Park participated in the refresher, which is usually given several times a year, but was delayed due to COVID-19 restrictions. The NPS Structural Fire Program is proud to meet the mission of protecting lives and property while adhering to restrictions and taking safety precautions. The firefighter refresher course provides hands-on and live fire training that may not be available at some parks.

Mike Schell, chief of operations for the NPS Structural Fire Program, served as lead instructor. He was joined by Instructors from Yellowstone National Park, Grand Teton National Park, Death Valley National Park, and Glacier National Park. The instructors and students made introductions on the first day to set up peer networks across the NPS for future information sharing. Day one included cancer awareness and mitigation, personal protective gear inspection, “Ready Up” drills, and hose load instruction.

Structural firefighters practice vehicle extraction techniques during structural fire refresher.

NPS/B BEATY

The refresher is a time to focus on firefighter safety. Measures to reduce carcinogen exposure included learning to keep gear clean and keep contaminants out of homes and offices. Instructors covered the proper way to inspect personal protective gear to ensure they were clean, undamaged, and within the 10-year life cycle. The “Ready Up” drills reinforce going from uniform to all firefighter clothing, and to all protective equipment to make a safer entry into an immediately dangerous environment.

The second day focused on traffic control and vehicle accident response. Proper traffic control measures help protect emergency responders working near traffic. The students practiced using extrication tools such as cutters and spreaders to remove windows, force doors, and cut off roofs to gain access to the passenger compartment. The day ended with a motor vehicle incident capstone exercise. Firefighters responded to the vehicle accident, established a motor vehicle incident traffic control zone, and extricated a patient who was then transferred to advanced medical care.

Structural firefighters practice Rapid Intervention Crew rescue techniques.

NPS/B BEATY

On the third day, students learned firefighter Rapid Intervention Crew rescue techniques and how to search a building for victims. The pinnacle of the day was the live fire training. Crews were exposed to several different fires. The first was the observation burn to see the different stages of fire behavior, understand the changing environment, and how to identify dangerous conditions. The burn building was reset, and firefighters conducted a defensive fire attack from the exterior of the building. Finally, firefighters conducted a transitional fire attack, knocking the flames down from the outside and then making entry to extinguish the blaze. Once training was complete, crews used the knowledge gained from the cancer awareness and mitigation lecture to decontaminate their firefighting gear.

Structural firefighters use proper techniques to rescue a victim from a building.

NPS/ B BEATY

The time together proved valuable for information sharing between firefighters from different parks. These events are not possible without the support from the host unit, instructor cadre, and the support of leadership from the national parks involved.