Structural firefighters have to learn to make split-second decisions while surrounded by flames, feeling the heat through their protective gear, while carrying heavy loads and wearing breathing apparatus. They must learn to remain calm, quickly assess injuries and impending disaster, and respond constructively to many kinds of scenarios. The training builds self-confidence and helps rangers be more effective and versatile in their home parks.
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Glen Canyon National Recreation Area
Article 1: Learning the Basics, Part 1
Follow two park rangers as they attend the NPS national structural fire training. On day 1, they learn how to don their protective gear quickly and correctly. Later they must practice locating a downed firefighter while having no visibility and following a hose line. Read more
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Glen Canyon National Recreation Area
Article 2: Learning the Basics, Part 2
Follow two park rangers as they attend the NPS national structural fire training. On days 2 and 3 they learned about fire mechanics and hoses--how to roll them, lay them, move them, and operate them. They also faced their first training scenario. Read more
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Glen Canyon National Recreation Area
Article 3: Learning the Basics, Part 3
Follow two park rangers as they attend the NPS national structural fire training. On days 4 and 5 exhaustion set in. The trainees soldiered through practice moving with low or no visibility while wearing their self-contained breathing apparatus, calling mayday in the face of an emergency, moving an injured colleague out of danger, knot tying, and breaking up cars to extricate passengers. Read more
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Glen Canyon National Recreation Area
Article 4: Learning the Basics, Part 4
Follow two park rangers as they attend the NPS national structural fire training. On days 6-9, trainees witnessed a controlled live burn inside a shipping container to experience the heat and smoke and learn about how fire moves, and learned about using existing sprinkler systems, precautions and firefighting techniques for compressed natural gas fires and liquefied gas, and extinguishing vehicle fires and removing occupants. Read more
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Glen Canyon National Recreation Area
Article 5: Learning the Basics, Part 5
Follow 2 trainees at NPS structural fire training. On day 10 they fought real fire in a containerized setting. They practiced attacking the fire in different ways with different hose patterns. They learned how to hydraulically vent a room and help reduce the fire. They reflect on what they learned and how it changed them. The Service's structural fire suppression training program was formally accredited through the National Board on Fire Service Professional Qualifications. Read more