BURLINGTON, Vt. -
Burlington firefighters are training for worst-case scenarios.
This week the department used the old DMV building on North Avenue to practice survivor training.
Blinded by wax paper, they learned to follow the hose back to the truck should they become trapped or lost inside a burning building. They ran through a series of drills simulating entanglements on electrical wires, and even a floor collapse.
"With the new materials and new construction, houses are burning a lot differently than they have in the past and a lot more firefighters are getting trapped, snared, entangled, running out of air -- flashover conditions," said Rob Mullin, Burlington Fire Department's Training Officer. "All kinds of conditions are happening quicker and people are getting into emergency conditions and what this is teaching our guys -- how to get out of those conditions in case we get into them."
Mullin says the soon-to-be renovated building offered a rare opportunity for important experience. They'll continue using the building for drills over the next couple of weeks.
