Lexington firefighters trainees get a rare learning opportunity: A real fire

Lexington Fire Academy's recruits received a rare training opportunity on Thursday: a real fire.

The trainees, part of Recruit Class 73, joined several probationary firefighters at a property on Man o' War Boulevard, east of Interstate 75, to battle a intentionally set structure fire.

Trainees haven't done such an exercise in 10 years, said Battalion Chief Derek Roberts. They normally train on metal cargo containers used at the academy.

"We don't get this every recruit class," said Shane Poynter, Battalion Chief of Training for the Lexington Fire Department. "This gives them an opportunity to see what they're going to be seeing out on the street when they get assigned to front-line fire engines and ladders. They get to see how fire behaves in a real house."

In all, 30 future firefighters participated in the activity — 20 recruits and 10 probationary firefighters who are still new to the job. Instructors set several fires in the house, and then safely burn it down altogether when training is complete.

The home was slated to be demolished, so the property manager offered firefighters the chance burn it down instead.

The main drills on Thursday were practicing what's called hose line advancement and fire attack. Trainees extended hoses from fire trucks into the home, and then put the fire out with water.

"They're learning hose movement in smoke, in zero visibility, and then when they get into the room where the fire is, they get the structure knowledge," Poynter said. "They get their knowledge of fire behavior inside of a structure, how it's affected by being in a wood structure versus a metal burn container, how the wind affects it."

The result is a more realistic training experience for the future firefighters.

"You do get the heat, you get the smoke (in a cargo container) but you don't get all the fire behavior you get in an actual house. This is a big opportunity for us to bring these new recruits and probationary firefighters out to get this experience," Poynter said.

Joseph Jones was one of the recruits participating in the training exercise. He and his classmates have been in the academy for roughly 22 weeks, and he said Thursday's exercise is the most important thing they've done in the academy.

"Not only is there a bunch of people that are out online already, but as a recruit mostly working in controlled areas like cargo containers, (Thursday's exercise) allows me to really learn what goes on in a structure," Jones said.

The training program at the fire academy lasts 26 weeks. Zachary Atkins, a trainee whose father and uncle were firefighters, said the academy has prepared him for his future career.

"It's a long and strenuous academy, but it does make you feel ready for getting in line and actually starting the work," Atkins said.

Along with Thursday's exercise, Jones has also enjoyed learning about search & rescue techniques and nozzle techniques. The recruit class is scheduled to graduate in mid-December.

"I think it's the best thing in the world," Jones said. "There's nothing better than actually getting this gear on and getting to go inside and actually see what fire can do, but hopefully make the mom, dad, brother, sister that's in that home, save their life."

Poynter encouraged recruits to keep learning throughout their career after leaving the academy.

"I've been in the department for 22 years and I'm still learning every day, and that's what we emphasize to them is never stop learning." Poynter said. "When you're out on the street, you're not finished. You're still learning, we're always learning."