The new confined space training prop was completed on 3/7/04 and the first class was held from 3/8/04 thru 3/12/04, with great success.  The simulator is set up to allow firefighters to train in real world settings, using different and challenging scenarios from the simplest to the complex.

The simulator only covers a 35x45 piece of ground, but it has 40 vertical feet(21 ft above and 19 ft below ground), 230 feet of pipe that ranges in size from 15 inches to 24 inches with openings that can simulate different size tanks, drier can, steam tanks, etc.

 

 

These openings are moveable and range from 9x11, 11x15, 11x17 and other sizes that can be found in confine spaces. The training includes manhole access, culverts, industrial spaces, air monitoring, rope and rescue techniques, along with tank entries.

Every city or town has numerous confine space locations within the city or fire departments jurisdiction. Although Rifle Fire Protection District has had very limit exposure to this type of rescue the need is present and training a must. The simulator is available to Fire Departments that would be interested in doing their own training or classes will be offered to a confine space technician level when needed.

We had instructors come from Ropes and Rescue Inc. located in Wisconsin. Leroy Harbach and Dan Kazmierski taught our first class.

According to Dan Kazmierski, a Milwaukee Firefighter and member of the Milwaukee Fire Department's HURT team. "This is one of the premier confine-space simulators I've seen."