TRAINING OPPORTUNITY“SOO HOT” (Saving Our Own Hands On Training).

(Above) participant breaching wall.THE FOLLOWING IS A SAMPLE OF OUR “SOO HOT” (SAVING OUR OWN HANDS ON TRAINING).

WALL BREACHING

Motivation: In an emergency situation, a firefighter may not be able to locate a door or window to use as a means of egress. If a door or window cannot be located, the firefighter can breach through an interior wall to escape immediate danger. This tactic is often overlooked by fire-fighters who cannot find their way out of an area.

Objective: Students will use proper methods to breach sheetrock between wall studs and, by using the reduced profile technique; pass through wall simulator to next room.

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We at Canwest Fire Services would like to inform you about an exciting training oppor-tunity. We have devel-oped a “Saving Our Own” portable maze that will enable us to bring the training right to your firehall. Our two-story (320 square foot) training aid will allow your firefighters to experience wall breaching (entry/exit), disentanglement, floor collapse and other rescue situations. Firefighters will be challenged with self rescue and downed firefighter scenarios. This is a “Hands On Training” for your firefighters using your tools and equipment. We are not coming to sell you anything.

Ed Brouwer- Chief Instructor

DISENTANGLEMENT / MEMPHIS DRILL

Motivation: On April 11, 1994, a fire broke out at the Regis Towers Apartments at 750 Adams Avenue in Memphis, Tennessee. William E. Bridges, a private assigned to Engine 7, was searching the 9th floor hallway for a fellow firefighter when he became entangled in fallen wiring. Bridges became trapped by the wiring and was later found unconscious and in respiratory arrest. William Bridges life was claimed in an open hallway, 10 feet from the stairwell door by what was later determined to be television cable.

Objective: While remaining calm and maintaining proper communication with other team members, each student will use swim technique and direct contact to disentangle themselves from entanglement/collapse props.

DENVER DRILL

Motivation: On September 28, 1992, the Denver Fire Department worked a commercial fire at 1625 South Broadway Street. Engineer Mark W. Langvardt, a member of Truck Company 16, was operating on the second floor when he became trapped in a small room having only 1 window. After numerous unsuccessful attempts to rescue Langvardt from the window, a team of firefighters gained access to him by breaching an interior wall. The rescue team found Langvardt in a 28-inch wide area and was faced with lifting their fallen Brother through a 20-inch wide, 42-inch high window. These

factors, coupled with the added weight of the victim’s wet turnout gear and SCBA, made for an extremely frustrating rescue. Ultimately, the rescue attempt was unsuccessful, resulting in Engineer Langvardt’s death in the line of duty. As a result of this tragedy, Denver Fire Department developed this drill in hopes that this situation would not claim the life of another firefighter.

Objective: Remove downed firefighter through 20-inch wide, 42-inch high window by filling void space at the sill with a “human ramp”,

ground ladder, backboard, hook, etc

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New for 2006One of our goals at Canwest Fire is to provide this training to as many firefighters in your department as possible. Being firefighters ourselves we realize the financial and time restraints in sending firefighters out to training courses. Let alone the danger in being short handed in our protection areas. The train the trainer works well, but certainly has its limitations. In our bringing the training to your hall, everyone gets the hands on experience and grows together as a team. During this course your district is fully protected.

We can provide a 1 or 2 day course. We provide training for 15-20 firefighters for what it would normally cost you to send 3-5 firefighters to a single course.

A one day course (8-10 hours) cost $500.00, a portion of which goes to support the Canadian Fallen Firefighter’s Foundation. The only other cost would be expenses (mileage [Standard Government Rate] from Osoyoos, B.C., food and lodging). If you would like to discuss some “expense” cost saving options please feel free to ask us.

All of our instructors are presently or have been paid-on-call firefighters. We are driven with a passion to train and help our fellow brothers and sisters. We have over 50 combined years of firefighting experience. Don’t pass up this opportunity to give your firefighters the tools and training they need to survive.

Feel free to contact us Phone: 1-250-495-4877 Email: ed@thefire.ca. Or visit our website at www.canwestfire.com.

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About Us

ED BROUWER CHIEF INSTRUCTOR

12 yrs Structural, 17 yrs Wildland, NFPA 1001, F.A.S.T. Trainer, Fire Warden, First

Responder III Instructor / Evaluator, Writes “Trainer’s Corner” for

Firefighting in Canada Magazin"

AARON BROUWER INSTRUCTOR

9 yrs Structural, 12 yrs Wildland, NFPA 1001, First Responder III, Writes “Fit For Life” for Canada Firefighter and EMS

Quarterly.

ERIC CULLEN INSTRUCTOR

13 yrs Structural, 9 yrs Wildland, Engine Operato1, Diving Ticket, Open Water

Instructor, Fire Warden.CASEY BROUWER

INSTRUCTOR

6 yrs Structural, 11 yrs Wildland, First Responder III.