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Highlands Today

Firefighters Train In Burning House

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By GARY PINNELL

Highlands Today

Published: September 15, 2008

SEBRING - For volunteer firefighters, this was the Holy Grail. To stay under the smoke, kneel when entering the door of a burning home. Follow the hose in, remain with the three-man team, and make sure all three come out.

Sounds easy, but inside a burning smoky hell, it's easy to forget.

Local fire departments got to practice their fearless art Saturday inside a frame house slated for destruction.

"They're sharpening their skills," said Charles Andrews, Highlands County Fire Supervisor and Saturday's trainer.

He set dry palm fronds, then boards inside the frame home, to create smoke and fire. After each crew entered and put out the blaze, their missions got increasingly complex.

"Everybody checking their air?" Andrews shouted.

By 10 a.m., it was already humid and the temperatures were in the 80s.

"Drink, drink, drink!" Andrews shouted. Assistants passed out ice cold bottles of water.

Lorida VFD Chief Swen Swenson used his bottle to douse his crew-cut, then drank the rest. Firefighters have their street clothing underneath, yellow fire suits on top, plus helmets, face masks, and heavy oxygen bottles.

By the end of the day, Andrews said, "They'll have something they can't handle."

That's when the walls themselves are set fire, which penetrates the drywall.

"It gets out of control real fast," Andrews said. Actually, the crews from Lorida, Lake Placid and other departments may be able to put out the fire, but it isn't likely after the house becomes fully involved.

Gary Pinnell can be reached at gpinnell@highlandstoday.com or 863 386-5828

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