When a fire makes a room so hot that everything, even the gases in the air, spontaneously combust, the room explodes into a ball of fire. It’s one of the most feared events among firefighters, and also the most deadly, said Andy Densmore, the Allan Hancock College Fire Academy coordinator, in a press release.
That explosion can happen repeatedly in a newly installed flashover simulator/trainer at the college’s Public Safety Training Complex, making it possible for firefighters to safely observe fire behavior and to recognize the signs that lead to a flashover in a controlled setting.
“By creating these fire conditions over and over again, firefighters are provided with the knowledge and skills to deal with and to survive a flashover situation,” Densmore said in the release.
It’s the first piece of equipment purchased through a $1.4 million anonymous donation in support of the complex. The gift will also help complete the buildout of the complex’s city grid and scenario village, as well as provide the money needed to incorporate lighting and other amenities.
Kevin Walthers, Hancock’s superintendent/president, said in the release that the donation is one of the largest in the college’s history.
“It is fitting that it supports a facility that focuses on building careers in public service,” Walthers said.
This article appears in Nov 6-13, 2014.