Image Gallery: Burlington Fire Department Get Pump Operator Training

Last week, are taking part in a unique and valuable training experience - one that enables them to learn first hand what different hose or pump failures or problems feels like ... but without the stress and fast-paced action of a real fire.

The simulator, owned and operated by retired Littleton Fire Chief, Alex McCurdy of Fire Department Support Systems, can be hooked up to any fire engine to allow Fire Fighters to see and feel what a catastrophic hose or pump failure would feel like on the equipment they use every day.

This pump operator training is becoming recognized as a valuable 'off the job' insight for fire departments.  The one-to-one training takes about 20 minutes per fire fighter.  There is a cost to bring the training program to each fire department, but it's benefits are obvious in the event of a real emergency.

Today Bob and his son Rob were operating the simulator.  Fire Fighter Fred, who was first to undergo the training today, said it afforded him an opportunity to ask questions, and experience different types of problems without the stress of a real event.  

A computer operator works with the trainer to simulate different situations using a computer to control what the pump "delivers" to the engine. They communicate the simulations 'secretly' using headsets.  These simulations demonstrate what would happen in a variety of situations, including hose kinks, loss of pressure, loss of water, using several hoses at a time and selecting the correct pressure for extra-long hoses.  Interestingly, the simulator is almost "green", and reuses the same water for each simulation.  

McCurdy and his staff are all retired fire fighters, with over 120 years of combined experience. Information on the simulator can be found at www.fdss-ne.com.