Pocatello Fire Department trains nine firefighters in live-fire drills
POCATELLO — Fire Chief David Gates was scurrying around the smoking abandoned home on South Fifth Avenue Friday afternoon like a mother hen — only he was keeping his eye on a clutch of eight new rookies.
“There are no safety mechanism in this,” Gates said about the life fire exercises he was putting the new men through. “This is real. As a chief it's a pucker factor.”
Due to retirements and three new positions added to the department, Pocatello's fire department has the largest rookie class in Gates' memory. Taking part in Friday's baptism of smoke and fire were new Pocatello firemen: Sean Hunter, Scott Lockhart, Steve Simon, Jared Malone, Gabe Eckert, James Baird, Harrison Long and Dustin Hale. They were joined by Greg Wendelsdorf of the Chubbuck Fire Department.
Chubbuck Fire Chief Eric King was among the trainers on the scene.
Gates described the live fire training as a “huge” part of the preparations new firefighters go through in the city. The rookies have been with the department for one month and completing other training exercises. It takes flames to really put them to the test.
“This is dangerous,” Gates said. “Because of the unknowns we have to do a lot of precautions.”
Because the Pocatello department lacks a live burn training center, abandoned properties are used and no two are alike. In addition to the structural mysteries, there are no safety features that would instantly snuff a fire if a situation became too dangerous.
Pocatello Capt. Richard Nelson said the unknown factor probably helps rookies understand the challenges and fear that come with battling a blaze inside a strange home.
“They find out what it’s like to get inside a strange place,” Nelson said. “It’s more difficult than you think.”
Gates said the live fire exercises give supervisors a chance to evaluate how rookies will react to closed spaces, flames and smoke. Nelson agrees.
“This is a good time to find out if they’re a little nervous about fire,” Nelson said. “Your instinct is to run away.”
There was no running away from flames present Friday. The new firemen participated in seven different burns inside the dwelling where communication, breathing gear and teamwork are put to the test.
Nelson said the training will pay off when they respond to their first “real” fire emergency. He remembers his well.
“I fell partially through the floor,” Nelson said. “But I rescued a dog.”
Nelson also chuckled about the fact that the first burn exercise Friday at the home, located at 3233 S. Fifth now owned by the Idaho Department of Transportation, almost became a total burn.
Nelson said the rookies discovered the answer to an important question before the intentionally set blaze got out of hand.
“How the heck do you find a fire?” he said.
After knocking out windows, attacking hot ceilings and moving room to room during various training routines, the firefighters ultimately set the entire structure ablaze and doused the embers.
“There were no injuries,” Gates said about the training exercise. “It was successful.”
The eight Pocatello recruits will graduate from training Wednesday, April 10 during a graduation ceremony held at Fire Station 2 in Pocatello.
Friday’s hard work moved them a step closer to their first 911 call.