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Into the fire: Hornell trainees show what it's all about

Posted November 01, 2007 11:00 pm

Jen Carpenter

Before they can battle the real flames, firefighter recruits must warm up to the job through training.

Jordan Pelton, 25, of Wayland, and Jim Marino, 43, of Hornell are nearing the end of their training at the state Frederick L. Warder Academy of Fire Science in Montour Falls.

The two started their experience in the classroom in August, and have now moved on to the hands-on portion of their training. Pelton and Marino were appointed to the city's fire department at the Aug. 9 Board of Public Safety meeting.

"They're getting the hands-on training of what they learned in the classroom," said Hornell Fire Chief Dan Smith.

Pelton and Marino have been practicing their skills - which include extinguishing, search and rescue and laddering - using a smoke house and arson rooms located at the academy.

In the smoke house, fires are lit using straw and wood, and the windows are shut to allow the heat to build up. The firefighters must then make their way through the fire, rescuing any "victims" along the way, and put the fire out. The victims are 170 pound dummies. The firefighters also use thermal imagers inside the smoke house.

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"They try to simulate as much as they can," Smith said.

The arson rooms are used to replicate arson situations, and are set up to look like different rooms of a house. The firefighters put out the fire, and people studying arson also use the rooms to practice their investigation skills.

Smith likened the experience the recruits undergo in the academy to that of the military. Program Coordinator Bill Taylor is in charge of training the recruits in Pelton and Marino's class.

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Most days the recruits train outside until 5:30 p.m., and then undergo task oriented physical training every night. During the physical training, Marino said, the recruits have to exercise pulling hoses and performing other actions in their full turnout gear for 12 to 15 minutes.

"That was probably the biggest surprise," he said.

Marino said some nights are longer than others - like the recent time the firefighters underwent training to put out a large propane fire - which took until about 10 p.m.

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Marino said he has enjoyed the training experience so far.

"This is pretty fun," he said. "The hands on stuff has been my favorite. It's been a lot of first times for me. It's a blast."

Marino said the instructors at the academy are some of the best in the country, and are from all over the state, coming from as far away as Ithaca and New York City. He said the instructors only want to make sure the firefighters have the experience they need to come home safe to their families when faced with real fires.

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"You can tell they like teaching and they want to pass on the craft," he said.

Pelton said while the training involves a lot of hard work and a lot of hours, it is still exciting.

"It's all interesting," he said. "It's been tough but fun. We have a good time."

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Smith said the recruits are taught the proper way to do a search, and different maneuvers to use if their equipment gets caught on something. He said they're also taught how to ventilate the building after a fire is put out, which helps draw the smoke out. The smoke house is identified by different letters on each side, which Smith said is the way firefighters actually talk about buildings, instead of referring to a front, back, north or south side.

"They try to get them prepared," he said. "You can really see how fast the fire spreads."

Smith said the recruits additionally undergo training in confined spaces, auto extrication and vehicle fires. The recruits also perform training in a maze. Smith said the buildings are meant to simulate different stairways, balconies and doors.

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"(It's) just a lot of things you would encounter the way they design these buildings," he added.

Smith said there are usually about 30 recruits in each class, although the current class is slightly smaller. He said training is offered twice a year, in August and February. During training, the recruits stay in dorms. Smith said the future firefighters often become close friends because of the amount of time they spend together.

"They build up such a bond with these guys," he said.

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Pelton and Marino are expected to graduate from the academy Nov. 15.

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