They used to burn a house down as practice. But now, firefighters use a specially designed trailer from the Mass. Department of Fire Services. Boxford firefighters got in some of this "live fire" training recently at the East Station, practicing the fundamentals of fighting fires, but in a safe environment.
The old-fashioned way to do this training, Boxford Fire Chief Brian Geiger said, was to, literally, burn the house down. Various rooms in a house, and then eventually the whole building, would be used for training.
"That practice has really gone by the wayside," Geiger said.
There were liability issues, and it became difficult to dispose of the remains of the building, he said. So, now, firefighters use a trailer that is specifically designed to simulate a fire in a kitchen, bedroom, basement or other room in a house.
"It at least allows us to practice our fundamentals," Geiger said.
Firefighters can practice approaches to attacking various kinds of fires, communicating while fighting a fire, and how to handle the hoses and other equipment, but without the danger.
"It allows them to get that practice under duress," the chief said.
When firefighters would practice on an actual house, he said, they were sometimes injured. A fire could get out of control.
"What's nice about this," Geiger said, "is that it's a very controlled environment."
The system runs on propane and has emergency shut-offs.
Geiger said the training went smoothly for the five Boxford firefighters and one groveland firefighter who participated.
"I'm very pleased with the outcome," he said.
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