Training Our Own: SCBA Confidence Course

September 18, 2004

In a combined effort between Fire divisions, a realistic SCBA (Self Contained Breathing Apparatus) confidence course was built inside a donated drill house on Bensville Road. The course was built by members from both Fire 3 and Fire 12, led by Fire 3 Sgt Ralph Thompson and Fire 12 Firefighter Curtis Best. Firefighters met Saturday morning to put their skills to the test. Each firefighter in full turnout gear and SCBA entered the course with their facepieces covered. Once inside the course, firefighters found numerous obstacles and task waiting for them, including a wire entanglement simulator, low profile tunnel, floor collapse station, follow the hose, pipe crawl through, & a firefighter down simulator. Many firefighters found the course extremely challenging and exhausting. It was an eye-opening experience to the dangers of firefighting for the new rookies. The cost of building the course was only $250 thanks to several area construction companies donating some of the materials. The UPS Store in Waldorf donated 3 large bags of stuffing material for the floor collapse pit. The Waldorf VFD would like to thank these companies for their support in our training.

Also, Sgt Thompson and F/F Best would like to send special thanks to Chris "Click" Maggi for saving the day when the generator ran out of fuel. Thanks, Click!!

Trapped in the Entanglement Simulator

Inching through the Low Profile Tunnel

Rookie Firefighter in the Decreasing Wall simulator

Firefighter Speaks falls into the Collapsing Floor pit

Trapped in the Pit--What happened to my helemet?

F/F Nikky Molina crawling through the Storm Pipe

The Low Profile Simulator

F/F Nikki exiting the Low Profile Simulator

Ceiling collapses on F/F crossing the Attic Simulator

Firefighter trying to find the way out

Firefighter climbing the Roof Simulator

Sgt Thompson teaching F/F to find the way out