In 2002 the Bloomington Township Fire Department began planning a training
field to supplement the BTFD’s state recognized training academy.
Bledsoe, Tapp, & Riggert, Inc. a local engineering firm donated their services, and completed
the engineering and site development plans
in 2003. The plan included:
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A trench rescue simulator
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A confined space simulator
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An enclosed SCBA/RIT training obstacle course
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A roof ventilation simulator
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A Hydrant and stand pipe connection
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A live burn fire extinguisher training area with burn pan
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An auto extrication pad
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A flashover chamber
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A full scale burn building
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A hazardous materials training area
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This is an overhead view of the location of each of the simulators
on the Nancy Brinegar training field. Nancy Brinegar
was the trustee at the time the training field was planned and implemented.
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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.
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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.
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The little house on the left contains 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
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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.
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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 here to see additional views of the confined space simulator.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
Click here to view descriptions of the burn building components.
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Hazardous Materials Training Area
Check back here from time-to-time
to see additions to this part of the page
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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.
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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.
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