Firefighters Get Hands-On Training At Buildings In Bedford

BEDFORD, NH — Firefighters from Bedford, Goffstown, and New Boston participated in hands-on training at a house scheduled for demolition on New Boston Road Sunday.

A developer who purchased the property has plans to redevelop the area of the house and allow Bedford firefighters to use it for training.

Crews trained for two weeks at the property, performing search and rescue, fire suppression, thermal imaging, and equipment.

Bedford Fire Capt. Benjamin Selleck said skills were practiced last week and immediately used at a fire on Elizabeth Way on Friday. Captain Selleck said he believes it made a significant difference in quickly knocking down that fire and keeping it to one room.

Firefighters were rotated Sunday on training evolutions that allowed firefighters to be exposed to rooms with zero visibility and, in some cases, intense heat.

Bedford firefighters have access to the training facility in Concord, however, it is only available to them once a year. Training in actual residential structures allows better preparation for real-life scenarios.

The New Boston Road property included an old house with many challenges, two different garages, and a dilapidated travel trailer.

The water supply could be brought under the roadway to prevent traffic detours. Advisories to Bedford residents and signs on the road made people aware that the training was being done.

After training for several hours, the structures were set up to burn and exposed firefighters to temperatures near 1,000 degrees. After the structures were burned, the excavator moved the debris to ensure all fire was extinguished.

When owners of properties give access to fire departments, weeks of planning and preparation go into the training. Abatement and removal of hazardous items are removed from the structure, and several safety measures are taken to protect firefighters and civilians.

©Jeffrey Hastings www.frameofmindphoto.com/news

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