Local firefighters get valuable training

The Grand Junction Fire Department held an important training event Tuesday morning.

It was for a fire which they don't handle often, and one of the most difficult to extinguish.

The purpose was to teach firefighters how to safely approach a propane tank that's on fire.

Beginning from a distance, fire crews slowly move in toward the flames while adjusting the nozzles on their hoses.  This creates a wider fog plane to shield the team from the heat as they get closer.

When dealing with a propane fire, they can't just simply put out the flames, they have to cut off the flow of fuel that's feeding the fire.

"It's very crucial," said first-year firefighter Mike Whittle, referring to the training.  "I mean a propane tank on fire is extremely dangerous for not only us, but you know, occupants around it.  The quicker we can get that gas shut off, and control it, the better off everybody else is. And our whole idea with that curtain is to push that heat off us the best we can, so we can get that valve shut off. I mean the prop is really cool, super-loud, it makes it feel as real as we can get it."

Firefighters simulated turning off the valve by having the team leader place his hand on the propane tank.

Of course it was only a training event, so the output of propane was controlled and easy to shut off in case of an emergency.

Fire training coordinator, Mike Gazdak, says these events are extremely important in building trust and confidence amongst the team.

Tuesday morning was the second event of a three day training session.