Ranger – A local house sat unusable until the evening of July 7, when it became a tool for firefighting training.
The interior floors of the single story structure were broken and soft under foot and the smell was musty, it was dark and clearly abandoned. The homeowner asked that the house be destroyed, which in turn provided an opportunity for firefighters in the Ranger district to hone their fire suppression skills while training newer members.
Once inside the structure, a room and its contents were set on fire. Firefighters went inside in teams with a fully charged hose line. Newer firefighters were able to witness rollover, which is a fire behavior phenomenon where the unburned and heated gases accumulate at the ceiling of a confined space. The gases then ignite, causing flames to roll across the ceiling.
Rollover is a warning sign that flashover is imminent. Flashover is when all of the contents in the room ignite simultaneously, leading to extreme temperatures and rapid fire spread.
The inside environment was very hot, even though only a portion of the house was in flames early in the training scenario. Firefighters later exited the structure to allow the time needed for the fire to spread and for the house to become fully involved in flames.
The scene just outside of the house was extremely hot and could be felt in neighboring yards. Firefighters were managing the fire by keeping it from spreading beyond the house itself, while cooling nearby propane takes, eliminating the potential for explosion. Nearby trees and bushes were also being managed.
It was evident that the high temperatures and exhaustive training scenario required the firefighters to hydrate when they had the opportunity throughout the process. As a firefighter backed away from the scene to cool down, another one stepped in.
Once the structure was fully engulfed in flames, firefighters were able to experience its full effects while practicing their techniques for bringing the fire under control. They also had the task of maintaining the safety of other nearby structures.
There were loud popping sounds from outside of the house. As the flames grew, so did the temperature of the surrounding areas.
Those fighting the flames in full attire known as bunker gear were pulling heavy hoses back and forth as well as around the back of the house – a labor-intensive task. Throughout the process, a fire truck providing water to the scene was continually manned so as to adjust pressure and flow as needed.
Neighbor Emily Harris said while watching the training, “It’s great that they have opportunities like this for controlled burns, but it is kinda scary being that it’s at my back door like this. I have every confidence that they’ll take care of it.”
Another neighbor sat in a lawn chair in his yard and observed the training while feeling the radiant heat. The experience of up-close viewing can be humbling, as the realization of the time and effort that goes into bringing such fury under control can then truly be appreciated.
Before a suitable structure can be utilized for demolition and training, there are things that need to be done prior to its burning. A structure used for fire demolition must first be freed of any asbestos and all hazardous materials. Suitable house items can then be re-added to a room in order to create a realistic scenario for the training.
“Training burns like this one gives the department a chance to work with automatic aid departments to ensure safety for all communities,” Ranger Fire Chief Mike Taylor said.
Firefighters want to thank Peddlers Country Market for supplying the needed ice to keep their Gatorade cold during the training.
Details: Anyone who would like to donate a structure in the Ranger district for demolition or become a volunteer firefighter with the department can call Ranger Fire Chief Mike Taylor at 828-557-2185.