Firefighters from across Huron County were recently able to train in a safe and controlled environment when South Huron hosted the Ontario Fire College’s mobile live fire training unit.
The mobile unit, which was based at the Crediton works shed over the April 26-27 weekend, offered the chance for Huron County firefighter recruits to train toward their certification. The mobile unit simulated a house fire on Saturday, April 26, and recruits were able to practise in a safe environment, South Huron fire Chief Jeremy Becker said.
Becker said it was the first time in a fire environment for many of the recruits. The live mobile unit contains heat sensors and a camera, and an instructor accompanied the recruits inside the unit and had visuals on them. Becker said firefighters learned how to use water streams to cool a room and how to slow the blaze down to prevent backdrafts.
The morning training session simulated a main level fire, while a basement fire was simulated in the afternoon.
Becker said the live mobile unit keeps track of how long the firefighters are in the structure.
“These things are amazing,” he said, adding there are two mobile training units in the province.
Firefighters from South Huron, Central Huron, North Huron, Goderich and Howick trained on the unit on April 26. Firefighters also trained on a vehicle on the morning of April 26, while South Huron firefighters did additional training the next day.