City of Longwood

Acquired Structures

Firefighter training takes place after several parties come in contact and acquire structures for these trainings to take place in.  When buildings inside City limits are about to be demolished, the Fire Marshal will make note of this, notify the Training Officer, and try to acquire the structure for training purposes.  Most of these trainings are “dry”, which means that there are no actual fires being lit at the time of training.  Before a structure can be burnt down for training purposes, there is a long list of specifications from the state that the City must comply with. 

The City of Longwood and the Fire Department would like to thank those who have allowed the department to use their locations as acquired structures for training purposes.  In doing this you have helped make our community a safer place.

Conferences and Education Courses

The Longwood Fire Department provides all firefighters the opportunity to attend several conferences as well as training courses.  Firefighters from the City of Longwood attend the Fire Department Instructor’s Conference (FDIC)  as well as the Fire/Rescue East Conference in Jacksonville, Florida every year for continued training.  The City also sends members to several institutions such as the National Fire Academy in Emmitsburg, Maryland and the Florida State Fire College in Ocala, Florida.  For pictures of these conferences and or institutions, please click on the "Read more" link below.

Commercial Entry

Commercial Entry training is necessary for firefighters in the event that they need to enter a building such as a warehouse.  Firefighters must learn how to cut through metal doorways in order to complete a rescue and extinguish a fire. 

Confined Space Rescue

There are several instances when firefighters must perform a rescue in a confined space.  A confined space rescue is one which involves a victim who has become trapped in a small space such as a manhole or a well.  Below are some pictures of this training taking place.

Flashover Trailer

This training is available through a countywide program.  A special trailer, which has been fitted to withstand heat, is used to simulate the effects of a flashover.  During the training, firefighters crawl into the trailer, set a fire, and then watch for the signs of a flashover.  The purpose of this training is to educate firefighters on how to recognize the signs of a flashover before the event occurs.  During a flashover, the entire room will heat up to a certain degree and ignite the entire room simultaneously.  One may call it an explosion of fire.  Because flashovers kill many firefighters, it is crucial that firefighters go through this training.

Above is a picture with a view from inside the flashover trailer.

Mobile Simulation Lab

This simulation bus is equipped with two mannequins: an adult and a baby.  These mannequins are computerized and simulate medical emergency situations.  Some of the simulations include the mannequin’s increase, decrease, and lack of breathing, turning blue, and having seizures.  They are designed to provide a more realistic medical emergency training.  This training, which was carried out in April of 2007, was made possible through state grant funding.

On the left: Simulation Lab Bus.  On the right: Longwood Firefighters learning from the Simulation Lab instructor.

Multi Casualties Incident / Joint Effort

Teamwork is very important at times when large scale incidents occur.  Examples of multi casualty incidents include plane crashes, a bus overturn, or any other large incident with multiple victims.  Because of the large number of victims, during a multi casualty incident, many agencies come together to complete a rescue.  Below are pictures of agencies working together to complete rescues during a multi casualties incident.

On the left: A joint effort training at the Orlando/Sanford Airport.  On the right: a joint effort training with a live burn.

OB Training

Firefighters go through OB Training in the event that they need to help a laboring woman.  Throughout this training, firefighters learn how to atten a natural delivery and clamp the umbilical cord once the baby has been born. 

On the left: Firefighters learn how to deliver a baby.  On the right: Firefighters learn how to clamp the umbilical cord once the baby has been delivered.

Operation Level "C" Personal Protection Equipment (PPE)

In the event that firefighters must enter a scene where hazardous materials may be present, they must know how to properly assess the situation and take the proper precautions.  To do this, they must learn the different kinds of hazardous materials as well as the equipment needed to protect themselves an others when confronted with these materials.  An example of a situation where firefighters may encounter the need for this training can involve a traffic accident where there is a chemical spill.

Longwood Firefighters learn about hazardous materials.

Personal Escape Training

Sometimes firefighters are not able to enter the scene of a fire through a door or window.  In instances like these, they have to cut through a wall and make an opening big enough to enter the establishment and make a rescue.  Bearing in mind that most structures are concrete block, it can seem like it would take a long time to break an opening large enough to complete this task.  During their training, firefighters need to make an opening, rescue a victim and another firefighter if he/she is trapped in the blaze, and exit the establishment in less than two minutes.

On the left: Firefighters make an opening on a concrete block structure.  On the right: Firefighters pull mock victim out of the structure through a hole they made on the wall.

Removal of Burglar Bars

Burglar bars can prevent intruders from entering a home or establishment.  However, they may also be a hazard when a building catches fire.  In the event that a rescue is needed in a building where all doors and windows are blocked by burglar bars, firefighters must quickly cut through these bars to complete a rescue and extinguish the fire.  Below is a link to a PowerPoint presentation about burglar bars.

Coming Soon - PowerPoint Presentation regarding Burglar Bars

Self Contained Breathing Apparatus Training

There are times when a firefighter's air tank may malfunction, run out of air, or sustain damage from falling debris.  At times like these, it is important that firefighters be trained to help each other out.  Buddy Breathing is a technique employed in a situation where one firefighter helps another who has no access to air.  Firefighters learn how to share the air in one firefighter's air tank while they exit the fire scene.

On the right: One firefighter provides buddy breathing to another.  On the left: Training Officer supervises buddy breathing exercise.  Firefighters wear plastic bags over their masks to simulate the effect of smoke.

Simulation of Collapses / Distress Call (MayDay) Training

During a rescue, a firefighter may become trapped in a very small area due to a structure collapsing or lack of an exit.  In instances such as these, it is important that a firefighter be well trained on how to escape.  Sometimes firefighters have to remove their air tanks and push them along while crawling through small spaces.  In the event that a firefighter is trapped and must make a distress call, he/she must be able to do it quickly and properly. 

On the left: Firefighter about to go through a "floor collapse" simulation.  Cut up foam is used for safety.  On the right: Firefighter experiences a "ceiling collapse" simulation.  For safety reasons, netting is used to simulate being trapped under a collapsed ceiling.

Vehicle Fires

When encountered with a vehicle fire, it is very important to contact 911.  These fires are very dangerous, not only because of the actual flames but also because of the fumes that are emitted while the fire burns and the possibility of an explosion.  Vehicle fires include chemicals such as different engine fluids and gasoline.  Firefighters are well trained to address situations like these.  Below are pictures of the City of Longwood firefighters putting out some vehicle fires during a training exercise.

Click here to read more about vehicle fires and safety measures you should take if you are faced with a situation like this.

Ventilation Training

During a fire, heat and smoke will rise making it very dangerous for firefighters to enter a building.  Heat and fire trapped in an attic or a ceiling structure can cause a collapse or a flashfire.  There are several ways in which firefighters help release that heat and smoke from inside a building.  Shown below is just one of the methods used by firefighters.  To see more pictures and descriptions, please click on the "Read More" link below.             

While standing on a ladder for safety, firefighters take a saw and cut through the roof of a building.

Water Rescue Training

Two very important skills are learned during this training:  how to properly enter a body of water in the event of an explosion and how to rescue a victim in a body of water. 

In the event that an explosion occurs, firefighters are trained on how to jump into a a body of water, should there be one at the scene of the fire, and avoid being caught in the explosion.  In most cases, the body of water is a swimming pool at a house where a fire has broken out.  When the firefighters jump in the water, they employ a technique in order to maintain their heads above water at all times.

Firefighters learn how to properly enter a body of water.