Fire Training

I ended up taking a second class at the fire school on base after having completed my Locker Leader Class. This was a basic firefighting class. I had completed this same course while at OCS so this was meant as a refresher. The training was centered on how to maintain and use the Self Contained Breathing Apparatus (SCBA). This is the Navy equivalent to a fire fighting suit. They are very similar in design.

We ended up in a classroom for the first few hours going over the necessary duties, equipment and safety involved in the process of firefighting. Firefighting in done in teams and each person has an assigned position and role to play. Everyone from the nozzleman to the plugman needs to know what he/she needs to do in an emergency.

After the classroom portion was finished it was time for the practical exercise. We had a quick dry run of the environments where we would be putting out the simulated fires. After that it was time to suit up. We grabbed our suits, boots, gloves, masks and SCBAs. After inspecting all the equipment, we then attached the oxygen bottles and tested them. We put on the suits and boots and then slung the SCBAs over our shoulders and strapped them on. The masks fit over a fire retardant hood so the entire head is covered by several layers. This also makes the ensemble very hot. Once the air supply connection had been tested we were ready to start firefighting.

I was a plugman for the first demonstration, meaning it was my responsibility to turn on the water from the fireplug and make sure a constant supply was coming out. I was then switched to the hose team and moved up to the nozzleman position. I was still holding the nozzle when the team was told to back out of the compartment. We call out the movements in turn one at a time down the hose while going backward so no one trips over the person in back of them. This is true of any commands called out. In the firefighting suits it is difficult to hear what people are saying.

The second demonstration was conducted in a more confined space. This meant fewer people could operate inside the space. Obsticles were also encountered that needed to be worked around. The hose also needed to be braced on several corners. Positions on the hose team were switched up more often in this case.

It is unlikely that I will need to suit up while serving as a Repair Locker Officer but the point is that I know how to do it. I do not envy the people who are required to suit up during the main space drills. Those suits and equipment are a pain to put on. They get uncomfortable pretty fast.