Springfield Fire Department, school create training gear

The Springfield Fire Department has partnered with the carpentry division at the local Putnam Vocational Technical Academy to create training props that simulate hazards that firefighters can encounter in the course of performing their duties.

Deputy Chief Robert Duffy, a Putnam graduate, was looking for realistic equipment that would allow firefighters to practice navigating hazardous situations while wearing protective gear. He reached out to Putnam’s carpentry division with the idea and some basic designs to see if students would be able to build something that met the department’s needs.

“We always like to partner up with Putnam and give the students the opportunity to see the fruits of their labor and see how, when they build something, it’s a valuable skill to have,” said Springfield Fire Captain and Public Information Officer Drew Piemonte. “To be able to transform what we gave them on paper to build it into a usable training prop for our members is very beneficial to the department and to Putnam.”

Putnam students created multiple props, including an entanglement hazard rigged with wires and cables to simulate hazards that can snag and restrict a firefighter’s movement during a ceiling collapse. Another prop resembles a closet or bathroom, complete with simulated plumbing and studs, representing tight spaces where firefighters may have to break through walls to escape.

Students also developed a hose prop cart for training, which “makes it easier for us to deploy on the fireground,” Piemonte said. The hose systems are uniform for all department apparatus, meaning that training with the hose prop from Putnam gives firefighters from different companies the ability to deploy hoses on site from any apparatus.

This also means that firefighters can train hose deployment without moving trucks around or worrying about rapidly recoiling and storing hoses if a call comes in.

“It increases our efficiency and gets our trucks back in service quicker,” Piemonte said.

Buying similar equipment from a commercial producer would be “a significant cost,” Piemonte said, with each prop retailing for thousands of dollars.

The Fire Department invited students who had participated in building the props to attend a training demonstration earlier this month alongside Springfield Mayor Domenic Sarno. Piemonte said the students enjoyed seeing how their work was used in training and helping Springfield firefighters hone their skills.

Piemonte noted that the training demonstrated career options for the students as well.

“Our message to them was that you don’t have to be a firefighter,” he said. “But you could be a carpenter for the city, or you could be a mechanic. There’s an opportunity there.”

The relationship between the Springfield Fire Department and Putnam extends beyond prop-building. Students in the school’s auto division will intern with the department’s repair division, learning to maintain and repair department apparatus, vehicles and equipment. Two of the department’s current mechanics, along with three other full-time employees, are Putnam graduates who previously interned with the Springfield Fire Department, Piemonte said.

Using available resources and partners like Putnam can be beneficial for both the department and the students working on the projects, he said. The students are able to realize, “‘Hey, I can make a difference here,’ by being a carpenter or a mechanic.”