Palm Beach County Fire Rescue LP Training Field

Palm Beach County Fire Rescue in cooperation with Florida Gas Transmission designed and constructed a half acre LP training field. The training site is located at the Battalion Headquarters Station No.42 which also houses the Recruit Training Academy. The LP training field has three props: a liquid line with simulates a fire impingement, a 250 gallon tank which simulates either liquid line with a relief valve or an impingement gas fire, and a standard barbeque grill. All props are supplied by a 1,000 gallon above ground LP tank. From the main LP tank, the gas is piped through to master control panel which has 2 main lockable shut off valves. From the master control panel the gas is piped underground to each of the three props. For increased safety purposes, each prop is equipped with an independent shut off valve. A large observation platform provides the Safety Officer with an overall elevated view of the entire training site.

Palm Beach County Fire Rescue recently completed a four hour LP fire course for their own 925 certified firefighters as well as invited firefighters from other area fire departments. The courses were conducted at night by certified Fire Instructors to provide for realism and theatrics. During the scheduled training, the 1,000 gallon LP tank was refueled every other day to maintain the required 80% fuel capacity.

Palm Beach County Fire Rescue provides fire protection and advanced emergency medical services to a population of over 650,000 from 39 fire stations. Each day a minimum staffing level of 194 career firefighters proudly serve the citizens of Palm Beach County. Through established partnerships with the community and the local gas companies, Palm Beach County Fire Rescue was able to obtain specifications, donated equipment and coordinate the construction of the entire project with personnel who volunteered their time and talent. The end result is a quality training site capable of servicing the training needs of Palm Beach County Fire Rescue.