PHOTO COURTESY OF MCFD THE LIVE FIRE TRAILER HAS STOVE AND BED PROPS ON ITS INTERIOR TO HELP FIRE FIGHTERS WITH CRUCIAL TRAINING ISSUES. As host agency of a regional Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Assistance to Firefighters (AFG) Grant, Mariposa County Fire Department (MCFD) has taken delivery of a Mobile Live Fire Trainer.

Over this past weekend a manufacturer’s representative trained 19 members of five local fire departments on its use as a multi-faceted training tool. The 53-foot simulator uses three propane-fueled fireplaces to simulate typical room and content fires from incipient stage through a deadly flashover. In addition, a special generator uses mineral oil and nitrogen gas to create artificial smoke so thick a firefighter has trouble seeing more than two feet around him or her. The simulator is environmentally non-polluting while teaching and honing vital firefighting skills in a safe environment.

This state-of-the-art, computerized training device was manufactured by Pro-Safe Fire Training Systems of Ontario Canada and funded by a $375,000 grant awarded in late-2008. Participants from Mariposa County Fire, Mariposa Public Utility District Fire, Groveland Fire District, CAL FIRE, and Yosemite Fire spent two days learning how to set up and operate the training tool. In addition to live fire training, the simulator teaches search and rescue in a smokefilled environment, basement fire attack, roof ventilation, confined space rescue, and forcible entry. Also included are props for firefighters to practice rescuing entrapped fellow firefighters through walls, ceilings and windows.

Over the past two decades, due to environmental and firefighter safety issues, training acquired through burning real structures has become extremely difficult to complete. In order to ensure firefighters are adequately trained in safe firefighting techniques, propane-fueled training devices have become more popular in recent years. However, due to extraordinary cost, fixed training towers have been unaffordable for small rural agencies like Mariposa County. Additionally, with this unit built on wheels, it is easily transportable to more remote locations saving firefighters valuable driving time and expense.

Now that the partner agencies have trained and qualified operators, local firefighters will begin regular training with vital hands-on manipulative fire and rescue skills not previously available year around. A firefighter recruit academy is now forming and will soon use this tool to teach basic fire and rescue skills.

For more information on MCFD membership call 966- 4330 or visit www.mariposacounty. org/fire.