Comox Fire Training Centre hosts important training
Comox Fire Training Centre recently hosted two, one-day structure protection training sessions sponsored by the Office of the Fire Commissioner. The sessions demonstrate to the students non-traditionally techniques used in interface fires to protect structures using small pumps and sprinklers. The idea is to wet down the structures and surrounding areas greatly decreasing the chance of a hot ember igniting them.
The sessions were delivered by Stan Harvey and Gord Schreiner; two of three persons authorized in the province to deliver this training. Over fifty firefighters from sixteen island departments attended these sessions. Equipment used for this tactic is typically carried in a trailer. The province provides a standardized list inventory carried in these trailers. Comox Fire Rescue has had a Structure Protection trailer for about ten years now. Their trailer and team were recently requested by the Office of the Fire Commissioner to assist with structure protection at the Sproat Lake fire.
Comox has trained about 35 of their 50 members in the training required to be deployed by the province with a structure protection trailer. Oyster River has also deployed a Structure Protection trailer and trained many of their members.
Chief Schreiner states: “It is great to see this type of equipment and skills here in the Comox Valley. I hope we never need it but know that if we do it is ready to go. We are also pleased to share this equipment and our skills with our neighbouring departments and we know that they will do the same”