2022 ANNUAL REPORT-Final

51

EMERGENCY SERVICES

Training Office (continued)

Firefighting water is provided from an on campus two-acre pond. All water used on site for firefighting activities is supplied from this ecologically friendly pond. Fire hydrants used for training activities are supplied from the pond, and all water used for training purposes is re-circulated on the property. The pond serves as a renewable resource and is a thriving ecological part of the storm-water-management system on the campus. A maze building is used to train firefighters to find their way about, around and through obstructions, while in total darkness. The primary purpose of this facility is to strengthen the firefighter’s ability to use breathing apparatus and to build confidence when working in dark and unfamiliar surroundings. Multiple configurations with varying levels of difficulty can be obtained by opening or securing different doors. There are two hydraulic floor collapse props incorporated into the maze that allow for realistic but safe “lean to” and “pancake” style collapses. The maze is equipped with monitoring areas for the instructors to oversee student progress and emergency egress points in the event of an emergency. The building is also climate-controlled

allowing year-round use while staying within the environmental parameters set forth for training.

A roof prop built by DFRS personnel affords firefighters realistic vertical ventilation training in a low-risk environment. This prop has three different style roof pitches that personnel can use hand tools and powered saws on when training. Students begin their roof training here and work their way up to training on the roof of the burn building.

In 2022, the DFRS Training Section graduated 3 Recruit Classes with 70 recruits, and a Paramedic Class with 7 Paramedics. The Training Section also returned to conducting In-Service training for our uniformed personnel after nearly two years of COVID restrictions. This task specific training included: vertical ventilation, forcible entry, rapid intervention, firefighter down CPR, and a department-wide policy roll-out. The Training Section was able to take advantage of a couple unique training opportunities with the acquisition of (2) vacant structures for which scenarios were developed, and training was delivered. DFRS would like to thank Frederick County Public Schools for allowing us to train both our career and volunteer firefighters at the old Wavery Elementary School prior to its demolition. DFRS also wants to thank the Town of Woodsboro for allowing us to train career and volunteer firefighters in our 2nd Battalion at their new townhall location prior to demolishing the old restaurant. These two opportunities provided our firefighters invaluable training with real challenges in real buildings where they could perform real techniques because the buildings were being demolished after the training. In the spring of 2022, the Training Section administered the annual Work Performance Evaluation, an incumbent firefighter physical agility and capability test, to our career firefighters. The Training Section assisted the Gear Up Program with delivery of entry level training for more than 200 volunteers. The Training Section also provided Stop the Bleed and CPR instruction in support of several Community Outreach Programs.