Excerpts from the ChicagoTribune.com::
On Thursday,[Kody Bruce], the son of Elgin Fire Department Battalion Chief Terry Bruce and Lt. Amanda Bruce got to learn about being a firefighter like his parents — and saw how science is also part of their jobs. Thursday was “Take Your Child to Work Day.”
Elgin firefighters began the first day of a four-day training exercise Thursday, practicing basement fires at a house at 980 Lavoie Avenue. Scheduled for demolition because of its location in a flood way, the house will be used for several different training scenarios over the next few weeks before it is demolished.
Two engine crews from various fire stations were training at the house at any one time Thursday morning. Department instructors had placed a burn barrel with pallets and straw on top to simulate an actual basement fire — creating lots of smoke but not actually starting the home on fire, explained Battalion Chief Tim Michaels.
Basement fires create their own set of challenges, Terry Bruce said. “You are going down into the chimney” as hot air rushes up and out a staircase, he said. Once firefighters get into the basement, the heat usually relents.
Kody peppered his father with questions about the firefighters — what they did inside a house, or why they wouldn’t just bring out a ladder truck and pour water on the fire from on top. Once a ladder truck starts pouring water from the top, the structure is probably done for, Terry Bruce explained. It pushes the heat and smoke out, instead of containing it.
thanks Dan
