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(Left) Firefighters from the three agencies involved in the training often work together on calls that require mutual aid and the joint training makes for more cohesive teamwork. (Right) Up on the roof: the recent training exercises hosted by the SPFD and shared by VCFD and Fillmore Fire personnel appeared real to passersbys on South Oak Street. |
SPFD hosting mutual aid agencies in training at church due for demolition
January 21, 2015
By Peggy Kelly
Santa Paula News
Santa Paula Fire has been able to use a church complex that is about to be demolished to stage exercises with other departments for coordinated training of firefighters that often work together.
According to SPFD Acting Assistant Chief Dustin Lazenby, the SPFD has been training with Ventura County and Fillmore Fire departments, two agencies Santa Paula often finds itself shoulder-to-shoulder with on mutual aid structure fire calls.
Both Santa Paula Fire engines participated in training for structure fire operations with Ventura County Fire RE-27 and E-21 and the Fillmore City Fire E-191.
A donated roof prop from 1-800-BOARDUP was constructed which allowed for more realistic roof-top training.
The former church at 123 S. Oak Street will be demolished to make way for a Santa Paula Housing Authority senior living project and was found to be a perfect opportunity for the three fire departments to train.
Lazenby said the “The focus of the training is for surrounding agencies to train for structure fire operations... mainly the engine companies involved are the ones that would respond to the city for a structure fire or we would respond to their needs,” for mutual aid.
A reported structure fire in the city said Lazenby brings, “two Santa Paula Engines, an engine from Ventura County and a chief,” that initially responds.
When the first fire engine gets on scene additional equipment may be requested to respond to assist in the firefight.
Lazenby said, “It’s crucial that we train often with our auto-aid partners so that responding personnel have the same strategic goals and objectives and everyone uses the same terminology while operating on the scene of an emergency.”
There were three exercise days in all at the former church, but Lazenby noted, “We would have had more training but the building is to be demolished and we’re just using the opportunity we have with an empty structure,” a rare chance to train in a real building.
And the building takes a beating with firefighters breaching walls, cutting into the roof and using smoke machines to simulate real fire emergencies, among other training.
These exercises hosted by the SPPD featured all three companies working together as well as training involving just two of the agencies.
As always such training involving numerous firefighting units can cause alarm but those residents dialing 911 have been assured firefighters are on the scene for training purposes only.
