Training Field

 

    In 2002 the Bloomington Township Fire Department began planning a training field to supplement the BTFD’s state recognized training academy.

BTFD developed a four year plan for a training field. The plan included:

	A trench rescue simulator
	A confined space simulator
	An enclosed SCBA/RIT training obstacle course
	A roof ventilation simulator
	A propane tank fire emergency simulator
	A Hydrant and stand pipe connection
	A live burn fire extinguisher training area with burn pan
	An auto extrication pad
	A flashover chamber
	A full scale burn building
	A hazardous materials training area including an overturned MC306 tanker

    Bledsoe, Tapp, & Riggert, Inc. a local engineering firm donated their services, and completed the engineering and site development plans in 2003. These plans can be viewed by clicking here

	The Trench Rescue simulator pictured to the left is used to practice shoring and rescue techniques in the event a worker becomes entrapped while working in an excavation.
	The hydrant in the picture to the left was donated by Bloomington City Utilities.  Installation, along with the necessary piping was donated by Washington Township Water Corporation. The hydrant is fed by the stand pipe in the background, effectively creating two training simulators, the hydrant hookup and a building stand pipe connection.
	The intermodal container on the left houses the SCBA/RIT obstacle course. RIT stands for Rapid Intervention Team. This team is deployed into a fire structure when the fire attack crew gets into trouble. Click here to view the interior of the SCBA obstacle course
	OSHA requires refreshers for confined space awareness yearly, and while BTFD maintains the equipment necessary to carry out a confined space rescue, BTFD would call on the Bloomington City Fire Department confined space rescue team for mutual aid. Pictured on the right is the BTFD confined space simulator. Click the picture links to see additional pictures. Pic1  Pic2   Pic3  Photos
	The ventilation simulator allows firefighters to learn and practice roof top operations like ventilation. Holes are cut in the exposed wood area on the simulator, just like they would be in a roof at a structure fire. The hole is cut directly over the fire in order to allow the release of smoke and heat making it safer for the fire attack crew inside.
	The propane tank pictured on the here is used to simulate a propane tank fire. The tank itself does not contain propane. The propane is supplied by a tank near the rear of the ventilation simulator. Propane never actually enters the simulation tank itself, but travels up a pipe behind the propane tank  and into a pipe tree that is used to disperse the propane for burning.
	Extinguisher training is preformed using the fire pan pictured on the left. The pan is partially filled with water, and then a mixture of flammable liquid is floated on top of the water and ignited. This pan has two compartments that allow for a 4'x4' or 4'x8' area fire.
	The Flashover Chamber was placed on the training field the last week in December 2005. Flashover training allows firefighters to witness a flashover first hand. Learning the signs of a flashover can save a firefighters life.
	The burn building is the focal point of the training field. Completed in August, 2007, the burn building provides for live fire training at several locations throughout the building, search and rescue training in artificial smoke conditions, ladder operations, roof operations, and high angle rope rescue training.  The burn building was purchased and erected utilizing funds from the department's budget through careful management and savings, no additional taxes, bonds, or loans were used.  Click here to view the inside components of the building.
Hazardous Materials Training Area Check back here from time-to-time to see additions to this part of the page
Bloomington Township Department of Fire & Emergency services is one of Indiana Department of Homeland Security's District 8 hazardous materials response teams. District 8 includes seven counties and encompasses over 3000 square miles. BTFD shares this responsibility with the Columbus Fire Department out of Columbus, Indiana.
	Pictured on the left is a fuel tanker purposely placed on its side. The tanker, provided by the Indiana Department of Natural Resources, is used for hazardous materials training.  Besides learning how to handle leaks at multiple points, haz-mat technicians are taught how to apply a 306 dome clamp on the fill ports in order to secure them.
	This 1-ton chlorine tank cylinder head is used to teach technician level responders how to control a leak that may occur with this type of container. Chlorine gas can be fatal when inhaled. Liquid chlorine can expand 457 times when the pressurized liquid is released, forming a cloud that can travel large distances. This practice head is equipped with plumbing that hooks up to a garden hose that allows the instructor to create leaks at several different key points. The student technician then learns the correct method to control each type of leak.