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Hot Shots: Training - Roof Simulator, 06/05/04, Redwood Meadows
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This is our 'Roof Simulator'. It's a wooden construct built by our members, with some sheeting to mimic different roofing materials, and a replaceable section so that different methods of opening up a roof can be attempted over and over. (The reason we open a roof in the first place is to release the smoke, heat, and toxic gases that build up inside a building in a fire.)
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Crews use a fire ax to break open the replaceable panel. Another crewmember stands by with a hose line, in case fire bursts through the newly created opening. (In this training situation, there's obviously no fire, but we train as we do things for real.) |
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An underside view of the replaceable panel. |
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After the last evolution, the panel has now been replaced, ready for another crew to practice. |
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As these crews are essentially working 'above the fire', they wear full breathing apparatus - when the hole opens, it is going to release all the smoke and toxic gases that have built up inside the building. |
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We're not limited to the hand ax - we have chainsaws, gas-powered circular saws, or, like in this photo, the typical electric circular saw - anything that will cut will do. |
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How does that TV commercial go? 'Everyone's got a little Captain in them!' |
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