DESCRIPTION OF LIVE FIRE TRAINING

PROPS

A PROGRAM OF THE UNIVERSITY OF NEVADA, RENO

Table of Contents

Important Drill Field Information…………………………………….. 1

Gas Plant……………………………………………………………… 2

Production Pump……………………………………………………… 3

Truck Loading Rack/Sample Point…………………………………… 4

Tri-Level………………………………………………………………. 5

Process Unit…………………………………………………………… 6

Multi Flange…………………………………………………………… 7

Pump Row…………………………………………………………….. 8

Rail Car………………………………………………………………… 9

LPG Props………………………………………………………….… 10

Dry Chemical Props……………………………….………….………. 11

Shipboard/Off-Shore………………………………………………….. 12

ARFF-Aircraft Rescue Fire Fighting………………………………….. 13

Storage Tank……………………………………………...……………14

1

University of Nevada, Reno

Fire Science Academy

Fire Training Props

The University of Nevada, Reno Fire Science Academy utilizes a high-pressure fire water system to provide approximately 140 PSI at the hydrant. The fire props are designed to be fought with multiple 1 ¾” attack lines, each 150 feet long and flowing 95 GPM. This arrangement provides an abundant amount of water to attack and cool the props. The fire fuel system, approximately a 70%-30% diesel/hexane blend, is pressurized to an estimated 80 PSI. This affords the fire fighting students an opportunity to fight large, aggressive fires that will push them to the limits of their endurance and capabilities. It is designed to promote learning, confidence, and pride in their firefighting abilities. Each fire fighting prop is constructed with a full containment and drainage system directed to the Fire Science Academy wastewater treatment facility. This state of the art system protects our students from exposure to excessive fuel build-up conditions even under times of high occupancy usage.

2

Gas Plant

This prop represents a simulated refinery gas plant or crude unit with ancillary exchangers, piping, pumps, and an adjacent storage tank. The gas plant may be utilized by itself or in conjunction with the storage tank. It is suggested a minimum of two attack lines, with an additional safety line, be used to attack this prop. This prop has twelve burnable valves and attack can be made from a 360-degree angle. Equipment available at this prop includes 1 ¾” hand lines, adjustable fog nozzles, including pistol grip nozzles, and a 500 GPM stationary monitor. A foam attack is optional on the open roof storage tank. Suggested equipment would include a foam nozzle, eductor and pick-up tube, or a portable monitor with five-gallon containers of foam.

3

Production Pump

This prop represents an oil field production pump with a wellhead packing leak. The high-pressure liquid and LPG fire simulates an impingement problem and produces high radiant heat for the attacking firefighters. This prop can be used with the gas plant or by itself. Two hand lines with a safety line are used to attack this prop. 1 ¾” hand lines, adjustable fog nozzles, and a 500 GPM stationary monitor located at the gas plant are available for this prop.

4

Truck Loading Rack/ Sample Point

A flammable liquid loading facility is simulated at this prop. Numerous flanges, spills, and pressure fires will be a challenge for fire fighting students. A unique set of spiral stairs will confront students accessing the top of the loading rack and tanker. Connected to this prop is a simulated sample point that can be added to the loading rack fires or fought on its own. The sample point presents very real overhead fire concerns to the group attacking this prop. Due to potential overhead and ground fires, these props should be attacked with a minimum of two hand lines and a dedicated safety line. Equipment available at this prop includes 1 ¾” hand lines and adjustable fog nozzles.

5

Tri-Level Process Unit

This unit consists of three levels, numerous stairs, limited access situations, and forty-eight burnable isolation valves. Flanges, seals, overhead fires, and a tee pan fire can challenge the most experienced firefighters. The Fire Science Academy uses a mixture of diesel/hexane and LPG to simulate various process, unit pump, piping, and flame impingement fire scenarios for multiple attack groups. Single pump or flange fires can be used for smaller groups. As many as six attack groups at one time, with dedicated safety lines, may be used to extinguish this prop. Equipment on this prop includes 1¾” hand lines, 3” supply lines, a standpipe system, adjustable fog nozzles, and a 500 GPM stationary monitor.

6

Process Unit

This unit has two stories and an overhead walkway connecting it to the tri-level unit and the truck rack props. It also contains elevated locations with twenty-seven separate, burnable isolation valves for flanges, seals, and leaks; LPG involvement is available. The process unit, the tri-level unit, and truck rack props can be fought individually or simultaneously for larger groups.

Available firefighting equipment includes 1 ¾” hand lines, 3” supply lines, and the 500 GPM stationary monitor at the tri-level.

7

Multi Flange

This prop represents a compressor with a lube oil reservoir and associated piping. Approach problems for students include three flange leaks, a high-pressure overhead liquid lead, and a pit spill. Fueled from four sides, this produces radiant heat. As students progress through the scenario, shutoffs are initiated and the liquid fuel, which is fed from both directions, is redirected to the remaining leaks, increasing the size of the leak and fire. Due to the spill and overhead fire potential, two attack lines, with a dedicated safety line, are required to deal with this prop. This prop is a valuable tool that teaches fire fighting students nozzle finesse and proper nozzle patterns they will need in the field. Equipment available at this prop includes 1 ¾” hand lines and adjustable fog nozzles.

8

Pump Row

This prop design represents a product transfer unit common in petro chemical facilities. There are fourteen pumps and motors comprised of forty-six individual, burnable isolation valves that can simulate flange fires, seal fires, and motor fires that require multiple valve shutoff for control. Some difficulties encountered by students on this prop are ventilation and cooling problems from the overhead piping and support structures. Fire fighting equipment on this prop includes 1 ¾” hand lines with adjustable fog nozzles. Pistol grip nozzles are also available.

9

Rail Car

The Rail Car prop represents a simulated rail car loading facility that has both high pressure and low pressure loading capabilities. This prop simulates numerous situations that an industrial worker may encounter with high-pressure LPG pipe ruptures on both the top and the bottom of the rail car; there are also numerous low-pressure leaks that are located both on the top and the bottom of the rail car, which can be used with the LPG pipe rupture. Because of the size of this prop, it is often misinterpreted as easy, but due to the limited access and the multiple levels, this prop can be challenging to even the most experienced firefighters. Two attack lines, with a dedicated safety line, are required to readily handle this prop. Equipment available for this prop includes 1 ¾” hand lines with adjustable pistol grip nozzles, a 500 GPM stationary monitor, and a 500 GPM portable monitor.

10

LPG Props

LPG Tree

Impingement Tower

Fire fighting students at these props experience extreme radiant heat and high noise produced by LPG fires. Communication is very difficult. While cooling and extinguishing these fires, the protective nature of fire fighting clothing is greatly appreciated. The flame impingement presents a cooling priority at the tower. Two hand lines, with a safety line, are required at this prop. 1 ¾” hand lines, with adjustable fog nozzles, are available for students at this prop.

11

Dry Chemical Props Pit

Storage Locker Three Dimensional

Pit

Dry chemical props provide effective incipient stage fire fighting practice. Beginning students learn, and experienced firefighters relearn the knock down potential of the most available piece of fire fighting equipment, the portable fire extinguisher. A thirty pound BC type extinguisher is usually used. Some groups may prefer a twenty pounder, which is also available. The three-dimensional slide prop and a standard, flammable liquid locker present fire-in-depth scenarios. The pit allows students to extinguish a pool fire.

Equipment available to students includes 30 pound BC type portable fire extinguishers, with a 1 ¾” hand line for cooling and safety.

12

Shipboard/Off-Shore

This prop simulates a ship or offshore platform. An engine room fire presents a challenge for fire control parties because of tremendous heat, smoke, and extinguishments. Experienced firefighters, both land and marine based, have found it difficult to access and extinguish the liquid fuel fire because of the tight compartments and narrow stairs built into this prop. Because this prop has the characteristics of confined space, self-contained breathing apparatus is necessary. It can easily double as a smoke filled, confined space with a class A. fire.

Fire control stations on the prop contain 1 ¾” hand lines and thirty pound type BC portable fire extinguishers for student use.

13

ARFF

This FAA approved aircraft prop allows students the opportunity to learn or refresh their Aircraft Rescue and Fire Fighting (ARFF) skills. Currently, this prop has all of the factors of an aircraft rescue, two engine fires, and multiple landing gear fires. To improve the realism of this prop, we have added a simulated fuel cell rupture fire and a class A fire that simulates a galley fire. This prop is also used for ground control and fuselage entry techniques.

The Fire Science Academy also has on site a Crash Fire Rescue vehicle for use on this prop.

14

Storage Tank

This 70 foot diameter, open roof storage tank is truly unique. Here, fire fighting students will have the opportunity to put into practice the skills needed to extinguish a fire involving the entire roof (more commonly, the seal fire). This prop provides a hands-on training session firefighters cannot experience at any other training facility. The storage tank fire is not common; but if you must face this real life emergency, you truly need the experience available here. A mixture of hexane and diesel fuel (70%-30%) is burned in the tank to create a tremendous amount of radiant heat and thermal updraft present in a tank fire situation. Logistical and extinguishment challenges abound with this prop. Equipment suggested for the storage tank fire would include, but is not limited to, foam from 55-gallon drums or 250 gallon totes and water from 500-750 GPM fixed or portable monitors.

Fire fighting equipment available for student use includes a stationary 750 GPM monitor to introduce a foaming agent, 1 ¾” hand lines, 3” supply lines, adjustable fog nozzles and assorted support equipment.