CSFD conducts a live structure burn for training

It sounds unusual: firefighters creating a fire instead of putting one out; but on Wednesday and for the next coming week, it’s for a good reason.

Capt. Brian Vaughan with the Colorado Springs Fire Department said, “Today we have the opportunity to do live fire training, it’s a unique opportunity.”

In Wednesday’s training, CSFD attacked a basement fire at a house on Broadmoor Bluffs Drive. Vaughan walked us through the procedure.

Vaughan said, “Fire crews will be going inside from the back side of the home and then we will be getting a hose in place, knocking the fire down and asking for the truck team to ventilate the structures.”

CSFD does some sort of live training every year, but it’s not often they get to do a live burn like this.

“It’s a controlled environment, but we do get to see live fire, have actual smoke and have different hose stretches down at headquarters,” Vaughan said.

And according to Vaughan, the training is absolutely critical because of just how difficult structure fires are, especially in newer homes.

“It’s very dangerous because of the type of combustibles that are inside our houses nowadays,” said Vaughan. “Everything is plastic based nowadays, so fuel based. The fuel burns hotter, faster compared to the classic homes of our grandparents.”

Vaughan also wants people to know that if they see smoke do not be alarmed, this fire is 100 percent controlled and they are using wood and hay to ignite it.

Training sessions will take place for the rest of the week and into next week. Those will be held from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.