Fire Critic An Unadulterated View of the Fire Service
I got this clip sent to me by a Crusty Old Jake. I do not know who made it.
The video (warning: vulgar language) features some of the old school mentality vs. new school mentality. While I don’t completely agree with everything that is said, the dialogue is interesting in the points it makes about how training is being created to not be dangerous. The outcome is firefighters who might not fully appreciate how dangerous our jobs can be.
It may not be as easy as saying “go in and put the fire out”, the video might bring a question to the table like “how come we are making it so difficult to go in and put the fire out”.
Standards like “two in, two out” were created because of lessons learned. The ability to follow this standard is typically accomplished by first due assignments in the area where I work. However, in more rural departments this might take some time.
As for the whole training in metal containers, class b burn buildings, and simulators is an issue which really peaks my interest. So many people are pointing to how effective simulator training can be in the fire service. I have a hard time buying it though.
Simulator training did nothing for my ability as a driver. However, I was already a seasoned apparatus driver when I took it. Subsequently, I think that simulator training is very effective for IMS. I have learned a lot by doing IMS training in front of a simulated house fire.
As for learning how to actually extinguish fire, simulators don’t seem to be a reasonable trade off. Even after hours of classroom to learn fire behavior, building construction, reading smoke, extinguishing agents, hose and appliances, water streams, and all that other stuff I feel that actual firefighting in the very least a Class B burn building is necessary to effectively teach what it is like to put out a house fire….and I mean a hot and smoky class b burn building with plenty of fire.
In all my learning, I always felt as though a class b burn building was a simulator in itself. It simulated a real fire. It was controlled and safe. Unfortunately that isn’t always the case.
What do you all think?
Here is the video…
