After a long day of breaching doors, cutting ventilation holes for smoke and gases, and facing live fire conditions, firefighters from several states are prepared for whatever comes their way.
FireShowsWest is bringing its annual conference and expo back to Reno and Carson City, giving firefighters a chance to hone their skills ahead of the next emergency.
“When the tones go off, we don't always know what we're going to,” says Bryon Hunt, FireShowsWest president and a firefighter of 32 years. “This is really about going to a typical structure fire. So it gives them the skills to enter that building, gives them the skills to put the fire out, gives them those skills to search for victims in those buildings."
Crews have six hands-on trainings to cycle through, including a survival course and a lockpicking class. Another one puts firefighters in a familiar scenario, in an unfamiliar way.
“They're entering a building trying to find victims inside that building, but they're doing it with no hose line,” Hunt says, “so they're going in with the small water can - we call it just a can. And they're using door control and that water can to help control or at least manipulate the fire enough to cool down so they can get in to search a room, clear that room and get on out."
FireShowsWest's goal is to be one of the premier firefighting conferences nationwide. It's put on annually in northern Nevada with the help of several sponsors.
Truckee Tahoe Lumber provides the lumber, a key part of several drills.
“We're very grateful to the firefighters and first responders that were able to put out the fire in Reno last month,” says Grant Kaye, Marketing & Communications Director for Truckee Tahoe Lumber. “This is a small material way that we can help by making a donation to support training for firefighters."
Hunt says the conference is not just about the skills polished, but the bonds formed.
“Really the best part about this conference is the friendships and the bonds in the family that you're going to form here, the things we do after class, the time we spend together breaking bread,” he says.
Another full day of hands-on training is ahead of firefighters on Wednesday. The conference continues with classes and speakers until this Friday, September 18, in Reno and Carson City.
