The city has new training equipment thanks to the generosity of the local business community.
Recently new burn cell units were built and donated to the Bristol Tennessee Fire Department by SERVPRO of Kingsport and Bristol. These units will provide customized safety and live performance training for firefighters who confront all types of dangerous on-the-job situations. This requires building structures that present realistic simulations of what firefighters are challenged with. “By building burn cell units, firefighter trainees will have the opportunity to gain confidence in the personal protective equipment they use and also gain experience in using fire stream management techniques appropriate for the structure fire,” said Assistant Fire Chief Jack Spurgeon.
The units will also be used during the Fire Department’s Citizens Fire Academy to give participants an up-close and personal look at what a firefighter encounters when responding to a fire call. During public education presentations, different types of demonstrations may be staged. One that Assistant Chief Spurgeon has expressed enthusiasm about is having in his public education cache the ability to show a room with a smoke detector verses a room without. “To be able to illustrate to families how quickly toxic-black smoke can fill a room when there is no warning system such as a smoke detector. Sometimes something as simple as that can make the difference between life and death. Once you have experienced for yourself the small amount of time it takes for the smoke to overtake you, it hits home in a way that just telling someone about doesn’t,” continued Spurgeon.
Many others from the community to support this major project including Lowe’s of Kingsport, Dalton Direct Flooring, Kristy Baggarly State Farm Insurance, Cumberland Fire Protection, General Shale and Tennessee Fire Sprinkler Contractors Association.
For more information please contact Assistant Chief Spurgeon at 423-989-5701 or email [email protected]
