Officials overseeing the rebuilding of Iraq say they want to make sure it's done correctly. That's why they've spent the past week in the Maryland area learning about fire protection, building codes and standards.
An Iraqi fire official said the trip was most informative, and he was anxious to share the learning experience with others back home. He was one of nearly two dozen high-ranking government personnel participating in standards and trade workshop sponsored by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST).
For security reasons, none of the visitors could be photographed or identified. One official said he moved his family to another country before making the trip to the United States.
The sessions gave the foreigners an opportunity to share ideas and network with their American counterparts. "You can read a lot in books, but this is reality," the fire official said
The group donned hard hats and goggles to watch the Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Services Urban Search and Rescue Team used jack-hammers and other tools to break up slabs of concrete.
Capt. Monte D. Fitch explained what the firefighters were doing, and how they shore up a building or confined space prior to attempting a rescue. His audience, experts with planning, public works, construction and code enforcement, were assisted by an interpreter from the U.S. State Department. Many took pictures as the team worked.
Montgomery County Fire Chief Tom Carr said it was an honor to have the group visit, adding that a cultural exchange is always a positive experience.
In Oct. 2003, Capt. Fitch's father, a retired Montgomery County fire official, spent many months in Iraq working as a contractor to help Iraq begin to rebuild its fire service.
"I helped them develop the infrastructure so they could re-establish a fire department. They had no apparatus, no personal protective equipment and no training academy," the elder Monte Fitch said.
While things were on the mend, personnel were sent out of the country to attend training, the Iraqi fire official said.
Fitch said he was pleased to have been included in the itinerary, and enjoyed the opportunity to play host.
The group also went to a Rockville building site to get a close look at various stages of construction. Capt. Rick Barnes and Master Firefighter Mark Barrick, who accompanied them, agreed that it was a good learning experience for the Iraqi visitors.
With the five lower levels of the 20-story building earmarked for parking, engineers had the opportunity to see the construction materials used as well as the different phases of completion. "Since some of the women were not wearing proper attire for touring the site, the contractor allowed them to view the design plans and blueprints in an office while the others were doing the walk-through," Barnes said, adding that the general contractor, Bovis Lend Lease, was very obliging.
The standards and code enforcement officer said the Iraqi personnel also were interested in hearing about technology that would make buildings safer.
"I believe everyone found the site visit very positive," he said, adding that the group had many questions about the project.
