100th CES firefighter attends British defence fire training

  • Published
  • By Karen Abeyasekere
  • 100th Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs
RAF MILDENHALL, England --  A U.S. Air Force firefighter here joined British firefighters from the Defence Fire and Rescue Service and Royal Navy for a senior-level course at the Defence Fire Training and Development Centre at RAF Manston recently. 

Staff Sgt. Guy Carriveau, 100th Civil Engineer Squadron Fire Prevention Flight, was the first American to participate in the training at the centre with the British firefighters. 

"The Brits were really welcoming," he said. "(As firefighters) we consider them all brethren, and they take the same amount of pride in their firefighter community as we do in ours. This training elevated my confidence to new heights- it was totally different from seeing it on a video." 

Leaving his familiar silver suit back at RAF Mildenhall, Sergeant Carriveau joined the other firefighters and donned British protective gear, which he said was lighter and allowed for more movement, but still provided the same protection. 

The two-and-a-half-day course, held Sept. 15 through 17, taught Sergeant Carriveau and the others how to read fire behavior and taught them how to look for, and spot, indicators of dangerous situations such as back drafts and flashovers. 

"Those are generally deadly situations - we got eyes-on and hands-on training, and it showed us how to recognize (those situations) before we send our crews into structural fires," he said. "The tactics and strategies of the British and American fire services are different in some aspects, and this brought together our vision of education and the way we do things. It gives us more options and flexibility." 

Sergeant Carriveau said the differences he found included checking entry procedures into back draft and flashover conditions, and the way water is applied. He went on to say that the U.S. Air Force teaches firefighters to use a variety of patterns when spraying the hose, whereas British firefighters use high-pressure hose lines, to limit the amount of water used. 

In the compartment fire behavior trainer, Sergeant Carriveau said the flames were rolling over them, alternately creating flashover and back draft conditions. 

"Two instructors let the fire grow to its fully-developed stage, then cut off its oxygen supply, creating a back draft," he said. "We were able to see the indicators. It was like the fire was actually breathing. 

"For flashovers, the fumes that come down are ignitable gases," he added, "it cools the compartment and alleviates the problem, creating a more survivable atmosphere for firefighters. We also learned the proper strategies for applying water - too much can give steam burns. Using the hose correctly to avoid that is an acquired skill." 

Sergeant Carriveau said seeing the conditions first hand have given him more confidence, knowing he won't be putting his crews at risk. 

"If you don't know what the conditions are and just open the door, you could create a back draft - which is an explosion when oxygen is introduced. During a flashover, anything in the room could ignite. 

Sergeant Carriveau said the training was beneficial, and recommends it for his peers. 

"This training will benefit anybody, and can save lives," he said. "Once you're able to recognize deadly conditions, you can prevent your firefighters from going into a dangerous environment." 

Seven other U.S. Air Force firefighters from RAF Mildenhall are currently scheduled to attend this training, and more will be sent in future.