East Jefferson Fire Rescue firefighters participated in a live structure fire training burn at a Gibbs Lake cabin on May 28. Sixteen career firefighters and ten support volunteers participated in the training, which was managed and conducted in compliance with the National Fire Protection Association guidelines to ensure the safety of participants and the surrounding community. No injuries were reported during the training.
โThese types of training opportunities are rare,โ wrote EJFR Community Risk Manager Robert Wittenberg. โWhile we do hold live fire training on an annual basis at our fixed training facility on Jacob Miller Road, those environments cannot match the conditions found in an existing wooden structure fire. These training events give our crews an opportunity to further enhance their skills and experience with differing fire conditions under a uniquely controlled environment.โ
In a rural district, firefighters face different risks and challenges that arenโt typically faced in urban settings, he continued. โWe may be challenged by restricted access and limited resources during the initial stages of a fire,โ he wrote. โThe training we were able to complete at Gibbs Lake allows us to better face those challenges in future events.โ The building โ a former caretakerโs cabin located on the east side of the lake โ was built in 1949.
