March 2, 2012

3:08 PM

On Saturday, March 3rd, Thursday, March 8th, and Saturday, March 10th, 2012, Portland Fire & Rescue (PF&R) will be conducting a training house burn at 236 NE 102^nd Avenue in Portland, Oregon. The Burn to Learn training will provide valuable live-fire training in an actual residential structure for newly hired Firefighter Recruits and career firefighters already serving on the line.

The Burn to Learn will begin each day around 9:00 a.m. when PF&R training officers will set small fires in the house. The training officers will accompany firefighter recruits inside to extinguish the fires. The process will be supervised by experienced, career firefighters and will follow strict safety guidelines. Once the training drills for the Firefighter Recruits are completed, the house will be allowed to burn in a controlled and safe manner.

Portland firefighters from Truck 2 (Parkrose) will also be at the burn, practicing roof ventilation tactics.

This training will provide Firefighter Recruits with an opportunity to practice advanced firefighting techniques in a live fire setting.

Portland Fire & Rescue conducts these types of training burns several times a year. Training Staff Fire Lieutenant Jim Sestric notes, "Burn to Learn training exercises are especially valuable for PF&R's newest firefighters by allowing them to observe fire behavior and smoke conditions in a burning structure." Lieutenant Sestric added, "Firefighters are able to learn the limits of their equipment and practice tactics in a controlled environment."

For questions or to learn more about Portland Fire's Burn to Learn training, contact Training Staff Fire Lieutenant Jim Sestric at (503) 823-3848.  

Visit PF&R's website at http://www.portlandoregon.gov/fire.

  Portland Fire & Rescue