The best part of the fire academy is ‘live burn day’. All the recruits are taken out to a home in the community, it is prepped for burning, and then ignited. This allows for a realistic firefighting scenario. However, one cannot just get a house and burn it. There are many steps and much documentation to be completed to ensure that these burns are conducted legally and in a safe manner. NFPA 1403 is the standard for live burns, and outlines the requirements for the use of live fire in acquired structures. Though these provide great opportunities for training, a considerable amount of work must be done ahead of time. This post provides a brief overview of the documentation, personnel, site prep, and burn day requirements. This is not exhaustive and should only be used as a guide. NFPA 1403 should be consulted prior to any live fire training.
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Documentation
- Contracts for outside instructors, building preparation personnel, or general contractors.
- Students to be certified to FF1 level.
- PPE/Gear to be in good condition, documentation of inspection.
- Pre-burn plan - to include evacuation plan, water supply calculations, and fuel load calculations.
- Jurisdictional permits required.
- Ownership determination, release, and property transfer.
- Clear title
- Written permission to burn
- Anticipated condition of structure at end of burn
- Method of property return to owner
- Proof of insurance cancellation/statement
- Post-training critique and final report.
Personnel
- Minimum of (7) certified live fire training instructors.
- Instructor-in-charge (IIC)
- Safety Officer
- (1) instructor per functional crew
- (1) instructor per backup line
- (1) instructor per functional assignment
- (1) ignition officer - fire control team
- (1) ignition observer/assistant - fire control team
- Pump operator(s).
- Rehab area staffing.
- BLS medical personnel and transport unit.
- Rapid intervention crew/team.
Site Prep
- Determine suitability of building for live fire training use.
- Prepare building for burning (make repairs, cover holes, remove hazards, etc.).
- Protect or remove adjacent properties.
- Hazard mitigation.
- Clean-up
- Removal/disposal
- Repairs
- Asbestos removal
- Vegetation/vermin abatement
- Utilities to be disconnected (to the burn structure) and removed or protected (adjacent structures).
- Run-off containment.
Burn Day
- Accountability (PAR) system in place and managed.
- Weather observed to ensure safe conditions.
- Rehab station and supplies established.
- Communications and radios provided.
- Evacuation plan and signal demonstrated.
- BLS medical transport unit on-site.
- Adequate and reliable water supply available.
- Calculate needed supply (NFPA 1142)
- Ensure reliability of primary/backup lines (95 gpm)
- Ensure adequate minimum water reserve
- Ensure clear space around structure for operation of hose lines
- Fuel materials available.
- Amount and type (wood-only)
- Documentation/calculation of fuel loading
- Removal of additional potential ignition sources and unidentified materials
- Parking and staging areas designated.
- Apparatus used for training
- Parking for spectators/press
- Designate ingress/egress routes
- Brief the pre-burn plan.
- Maintain the following records:
- Accounting of all activities conducted
- List of instructors/assignments
- List of all participants
- Documentation of unusual conditions encountered
- Injuries incurred/treatment provided
- Changes or deterioration to the structure
- Documentation of condition of structure and surrounding area at end of training
- Conduct a post-training critique.
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