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Barrhead’s newest apartment complex built to be destroyed

Barrhead Regional Fire Services creates a sea-can apartment complex to train firefighters
Gary and Ted, training complex Sept. 29 horizontal crop
Barrhead Regional Fire Services chief Gary Hove and deputy chief Ted Amos stand on the second floor of a ten sea-can apartment complex that has become an integral part of the department's firefighter training program. Barry Kerton/BL

BARRHEAD-It might not look like much, just a bunch of discarded sea-cans, but when they are arranged in a certain way — could save a life.

That is how Barrhead Regional Fire Services (BRFS) chief Gary Hove and deputy chief Ted Amos described the department's collection of 10 sea-cans.

For the better part of two years, the Fire Department has been collecting the sea-can to build a reusable training facility.

"We started with three cans, but last year we added seven more," Hove said

He added with the help of a crane along with a current and former BRFS member they were stacked and welded into a configuration to simulate a three-story apartment building.

"We wanted a lot of searchable space so that we could send multiple crews in at one time," Hove said.

During these exercises, often what happens is that a fire is started in a specific sea-can chamber. The smoke from the fire is then allowed to permeate through the entire building before firefighter crews are sent in looking for potential victims.

One of the main reasons why the department wanted to have a training facility such as this is to make firefighter training more efficient.

Hove noted every year organizes a National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 1001 level 1 or level 2 certification course.

The NFPA is a non-profit organization devoted to eliminating death, injury, property and economic loss due to fire, electrical and related hazards. The NFPA 1001 course sets the standard certification for professional firefighters. For the last several years, BRFS has conducted a large portion of their training in-house, but unfortunately not having a training facility such as the one they are currently building, they have no choice but to go outside the department to complete their training.

"The last time we had to rent a facility like this it was at Lakeland College and it cost us $17,000 for the weekend," Hove said.

And that is just the monetary costs, Amos interjected, adding, of course, there is the inconvenience of firefighters being taken away from their families and more importantly for Barrhead area residents, is that they along with a fire engine, are not available for service.

"Now we can do all that training [NFPA 1001 Level 1] here," Hove said, noting they are also in the process of expanding the training facility to include an area for propane fires and/or other hazardous materials, which would allow them to train their members to Level 2 certification entirely in-house. Another addition that BRFS plans to add to their "apartment complex," is a balcony to one of the third story doorways so they can practice emergency entries and rescues.

The complex also allows firefighters to learn to rappel, practice venting practices by strategically cutting holes in a slopped and soon to be added flat roof as well as window rescues.

The latter, Amos said, can be especially important as it is a variation of another training exercise, which potentially can save a firefighters life, the emergency window egress, where a firefighter exits a window headfirst and using the ladder slides to safety.

Amos noted that although there are some permanent items in the complex, such as doorways, having the facility allows trainers to introduce new obstacles relatively easily to change up their training.

"Just by introducing, new obstacles, such as new furniture, it becomes a totally different experience," he said when asked if there was ever any danger of firefighters memorizing the layout of the complex.

In addition to it being an excellent, cost-effective training method, Hove believes the fire department's apartment complex is a strong recruitment tool.

In recent years, the BRFS had set a goal of having 40 members — they are currently less than a handful short of realizing this goal.

"One of the reasons why is when people see this in our yard, combined with the type of equipment we have, they know that they are going to get their professional firefighter training and that it's going to be fun," Hove said.

Barry Kerton, TownandCountryToday.com

 


Barry Kerton

About the Author: Barry Kerton

Barry Kerton is the managing editor of the Barrhead Leader, joining the paper in 2014. He covers news, municipal politics and sports.
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