Press Room

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

ABINGTON TOWNSHIP FIRE DEPARTMENT FIREFIGHTERS COMPLETE YEAR’S WORTH OF TRAINING
AT NOVEMBER 15, 2009 STRUCTURAL BURN SESSION

ABINGTON – Members of the Abington Township Fire Department (ATFD) completed the final stage of a year’s worth of training during a Nov. 15th structural burn session held at the ATFD’s training facility on Florey Lane.

During the “live burn” training exercise, firefighters were expected to respond to a second-floor fire in the ATFD’s training facility. Volunteers had to “rescue” training manikins placed throughout the building, and remember that a firefighter’s first priority is to save lives, then to stabilize the fire and prevent it from spreading, and finally, to save the building.

Throughout the course of a year, new firefighters participate in a 182-hour training session, through which they learn about ventilation, search/rescue, and entrance/exit strategies, as well as many other safe firefighting practices. Much of the training is completed at the ATFD’s state-of-the-art facility, which includes one-, two- and three-story burn rooms, as well as a larger
area for search practices, new maze configurations, a cold smoke distribution system, roof ventilation training areas, and many other useful features. In addition to the drill tower and burn building, a classroom facility is also available for lecture-oriented training activities.

McKinley Fire Company firefighter Arthur Moore, who is in his first year, was glad to have the chance to practice what he has learned in a nonemergency environment.

“The experience is interesting and it prepares you for a real situation. You are really focused on getting the fire out and cooling the area down,” he said.

Roslyn Fire Company firefighter Matthew Orzechowski also appreciated the opportunity to practice his skills.

“This training is important because you never know when things could go bad during a fire. It is a great way to experience it in a controlled setting,” he said.

Even those like Weldon Fire Company’s Ben Melissen, who has been a firefighter for four years, participated in the live burn event because it offered him a chance to refresh his skills as well as provide support to less experienced firefighters.

“This program provides a great hands-on opportunity and you learn from instructors with 30-plus years of experience,” said Mr. Melissen. “The first time I did this, it was scary. Now I tell others, ‘Pay attention and listen to the feedback you get.’ Every fire is different, and every time I come to this program, I learn something different.”

The ATFD is an all-volunteer force made up of five fire companies all operating within Abington Township. The five companies that form the ATFD are Abington, McKinley, Weldon, Edge Hill, and Roslyn. The service area is made up of approximately 15 square miles of Abington Township and is comprised of residential, commercial, educational, medical, light industrial, and other suburban properties. The ATFD serves approximately 56,000 residents.

The ATFD headquarters is located at 1176 Old York Road in Abington, Pennsylvania. For more information, call (267) 536-1055 or visit AbingtonFD.org.