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Black Jack FPD has State-of-the-Art Facility for Training Firefighters
Firefighters must find their way through smoke filled rooms as this recreated living room at the Black Jack Training Center.
(Special to the Independent News)
The Black Jack Fire Protection District is taking steps to increase the training and awareness of its firefighters in order to prevent tragic events in our community. Over 100 firefighters perish in the line of duty every year in the United States. Many of these deaths occur in structure fires where firefighters are trapped, fall through floors, or caught in hostile fire conditions.
Black Jack Firefighters and other departments are now training in a state of the art, one of a kind training facility at their headquarters fire station at 5675 North Highway 67 in Florissant. The facility, which was completely designed by firefighters, provides the most realistic training available to firefighters as they train for many of the most critical tasks they encounter every day.
The training area is located in an 1100 square foot mezzanine area of the fire station, and is unique because it simulates an actual apartment or home, complete with furniture and appliances. The training area is attached to a four story training tower, and has an endless amount of configurations and uses. Firefighters can practice numerous life saving, and advanced firefighting techniques, including:
•Searching for, and rescuing an injured or lost firefighter, or civilian victim
•Practicing use of the Self Contained Breathing Apparatus that firefighters use every day
•Practicing the use of Thermal Imaging Cameras used to locate victims in dense smoke
•Forcible entry techniques, and removing victims down ladders and stairwells.
•Advancing hoses up and down ladders and stairways.
•Firefighter self rescue and survival training drills and classes
Black Jack firefighters work hand- in-hand every day with many other area fire districts and departments. “The need for all of these firefighters to train together is essential, and vital to their survival at every fire they respond to,” said Battaltion Chief Dennis Hohl.
The facility is currently being used by 15 northern St. Louis County Fire Departments and fire districts to provide firefighters with their annual breathing apparatus training requirements. This training will be completed on May 24 and over 250 firefighters will have completed an intense simulated search and rescue drill that keeps their skills sharp and teaches Firefighters from any fire department or fire district in St. Louis County may use the training facility at any time they desire, noted Hohl.
St. Louis City Fire Department Training Academy has expressed interest in using the facility as well for training new fire recruits, he added.
In addition to being furnished like a home or apartment, the facility can be filled with theatrical smoke to simulate actual fire conditions. Life sized rescue manikins are used to simulate victims, steel door are used to challenge firefighters skills at forcing open locked doors, and there are removable floor sections that can be used to simulate a floor that is burned through. All this give firefighters a realistic training scenario.
“This is about as close to real as you can get,” said Fire Chief Michael Gantner. “We can also move the rooms around to simulate different situations.”
On May 24, a Video Crew from the “Working Fire” Video production company will be filming a feature on the firefighters training at the facility. This is a monthly video and DVD production available to firefighters across the United States to assist them in their training needs.
The new Black Jack Fire Protection District headquarters on N. Lindbergh was made possible by a bond issue approved by district residents which includes the City of Black Jack and a larger surrounding unincorporated area.
The district is also replacing its firehouse on Old Halls Ferry Road near Parker. It is expected to be finished in early summer.
Firefighters from Hazelwood begin to take off their gear after completing the breathing apparatus training course at the Black Jack FPD facility on N. Hwy 67.
