By Olivia Drake, HVFC
Volunteer firefighters from Haddam and Essex participated in a collaborative “live burn” drill on Saturday, Oct. 2 at the Essex Fire training facility. Firefighters are required to partake in a live burn exercise annually to maintain interior-firefighter status.Crews worked in teams — donning full gear and SCBA — to practice hose line advancement, search and rescue, fire suppression, ladders, and vent-enter-isolate-search operations (VEIS) from the second floor.
A VEIS operation would occur if the stairwell to the second floor was compromised by fire and there is a known victim trapped in a bedroom. During this scenario, two firefighters break through and enter a window, close the bedroom’s door, search for the victim, and when found, carry or assist the victim to the vented window. There, a third firefighter, who is standing on a ladder, helps carry the victim to the ground.
“We’re very grateful to Essex Fire for allowing us to use their burn building and participate in these realistic exercises,” said Deputy Chief Jed Morrissey.
Photos by Olivia Drake, HVFC.
