FCVFD - Incident Photos
Flashover Simulator
click to view a larger version of each picture
Description
Fifteen FCVFD members along with four ACFD personnel from Engine 106A visited the Montgomery County, Maryland Fire Training Center to experience their flashover simulator. Instructors from Montgomery County conducted a classroom discussion describing the warning signs of flashover, the causes of flashover, and how to protect against flashover. Flashover occurs when all of the contents within a room or area reach their ignition point simultaneously. The phenomenon has become more common due to the increased use of synthetic materials in furnishings and improved insulation of structures. Firefighters who become trapped in a flashover have approximately 2 seconds to escape before being burned to death, therefore it is critical to be able to identify the warning signs and control the conditions. The heat generated in the simulator, which reaches approximately 1,100 degrees, required members to don special protective helmets equipped with heat shields as well as training facepieces to avoid damage to their primary facepieces. In addition to the flashover simulator, members were invited to utilize the SCBA maze to build confidence in their breathing apparatus skills. A number of members maneuvered through the confined space in zero visibility while others completed their practical exercises in the flashover simulator. At the end of the day, members were given a tour of the incident simulator used to teach strategy and tactics to fire officers. Many thanks to Captains DeMent and Bird of the Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Department for their assistance in providing this invaluable training experience to our firefighters.
Return to the Index
