The structural burn sessions (SBS) is a popular class among firefighters. The reason for this is because the final evolutions involve live fire burns, where students must illustrate their proficiency in hose line management, advancement, and fire suppression. Participants recieve a certificate upon completion, which is a required artifact for applying to take the Fire Fighter I certification test.

The course is 16 hours in length, typically divided into three distinct parts.

Part 1 of the SBS class is an academic review of several important aspects of effective and safe fire suppression tactics. This includes:

• basic safety practices
• personal protective equipment (PPE) and its proper use
• fire ground communications
• on-scene size-up
• stages of fire growth
• building construction and hazards
• in-building fire suppression systems
• hose line management and advancement techniques
• firestream selection and control
• ventilation practices

Part 2 of the SBS class consists of dry run evolutions, and PPE inspection, as pictured below. During this part of the class, participants go through all steps reviewed in Part 1, in preparation for the live-fire burn. Neither fire nor smoke are present for these evolutions, which affords participants the oppotunity to become more comfortable with what will be expected of them in the next part of the class.

The final part of the SBS class begins with familiarization with the building itself. This is accomplished by means of a walk-through, prior to loading the building with combustable wooden skids that will be used during the burn. The class is split into platoons, each consisting of around 5 firefighters, plus 1 instructor at all times. Platoons revolve through the various duties, including engine company operations (fire suppression), rehabilitation (break), hose repack, RIT (a rapid-response safety team), and sometimes truck company operations (ventilation, search and rescue). 

To gain perspective on what it's like to be a part of the Alpha Fire Company at a Structural Burn Session, view our SBS video here.

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