Public safety training underway at FSDB

With theatrical smoke so thick you could cut it with a knife, local Historic City News reporter and editor Michael Gold was on hand to witness first-hand the training exercises for St. Augustine and St. Johns County firefighters being conducted at the campus of the Florida School for the Deaf and Blind.

The simulation was extremely vivid and real-to-life thanks to an agreement with the school that allowed the free use of the Bryant Hall building by local public safety personnel. The students who once used the classrooms in that building are on summer break and the entire building was already slated for demolition.

I’d say, it’s a good thing — since the rooms, staircases and corridors have been hosed down with water and the structure treated, in most every way, as if it were the scene of an actual fire.

Simulated smoke was pumped into the 14’x14′ classrooms so densely that you could not see your hand in front of your face. Safety was the focus of every exercise as the rescue personnel checked room-by-room for possible victims who might have been trapped inside.

Like a well oiled machine, the firefighters meticulously and systematically combed each section of the room — like so many “blind mice” being lead through a maze. Even with flashlights, the only hope of seeing your fellow firefighter would be to catch a flash of the reflective Scotchlite trim on their uniforms.

Outfitted in full turn-out gear, including breathing apparatus, in 100 degree heat with little ventilation, the firefighters were subjected to realistic conditions that would be difficult to recreate in other training locations, except, of course, a genuine fire.

As each team of four or five were queued to go in, another team was brought out and debriefed. John Contestabile from St. Johns County and Mike Riley with the City of St. Augustine were in command of the scene and on the ground monitoring and evaluating any mistakes; then instructing the participants based on their observation of each firefighter’s performance.

Today is firefighter’s day; with crews from both the city and county fire departments being rotated through the commercial structure fire simulations. Teams are alternating through the between agencies each hour, according to St. Johns County Fire Rescue spokesman Jeremy Robshaw.

Tomorrow law enforcement agencies, including members of the St. Johns County Sheriff’s SWAT team, will use the building to train on hostage and extraction exercises, according to Public Information Officer Chuck Mulligan.

Photo credits: © 2010 Historic City News staff photographer