Green Fire Department trains to handle sudden, deadly flashover events
Don't panic. The smoke billowing into the July afternoon sky behind Green Fire Station #1 is a drill, according to the Green Fire Department.
Instructors from the Ohio Fire Academy are leading crews from the Coventry, New Franklin, Lakemore and Green fire departments are honing their firefighting skills Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday.
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Using the Fire Behavior Lab, firefighters are practicing in a self-contained structure, which mimics how quickly some blazes can spread, said Valarie Wolford, a spokesperson for the City of Green.
Also known as flashover training, she said this program is free for the participating departments as it is through the Ohio Fire Academy.
What is a flashover?
The Fire Behavior Lab simulates a flashover, which is a fire that suddenly and rapidly spreads across a gap because of intense heat, according to the U.S. Fire Administration.
This sudden fire event can cause additional property damage and is potentially deadly for firefighters combatting a blaze.
A flashover occurs when temperatures reach roughly 1,110 degrees, usually in concealed spaces, rooms with low ceilings, rooms with partitions and structures with energy-efficient or hurricane windows, according to the fire administration.
Often items that catch fire at lower temperatures and tight rooms with few sources of ventilation can contribute to a flashover.
To prepare for a flashover, the U.S. Fire Administration suggests firefighters plan an evacuation route, cool an area as soon as possible and switch to a straight stream to cool the area, creating a buffer zone.
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Green Fire Department trains to handle sudden flashover events
