During an interview, an Assistant Chief let me try the training maze. I suited up with an air pack, which is probably comparable to scuba gear. It's also heavy and cumbersome.
The mask limits visibility because the nose piece juts out like a beak. First you connect the breathing tube and inhale. The contraption gasps horribly and shoves air into your lungs. It continues to breathe noisily with you.
Let's recap:Heavy suit.
Bulky equipment.
Limited visibility.
Uncomfortable breathing.
Limited visibility.
Uncomfortable breathing.
For training, the station has a two-level wooden "maze" that everyone must crawl through IN PITCH DARKNESS. In pairs, the firefighters pass booby traps that hinder passage or simulate floor collapse. The second floor has standing room so they can pelt headfirst down a ladder.
The ground floor is 3' x 3' crawl space that twists like intestine.
Now, here's my recurring nightmare:
I can't see. I can't breathe. I'm wearing a ridiculously large mascot suit, and I must dive into a little trapdoor or tunnel. Maybe it's an enclosed water slide that was plugged up at the bottom.
Conclusion:
Even with outside lights on, the maze was so dark and nightmarish that I barely made it 5 feet inside. I reached the first "twist, climb over this, and the floor will shift," and I told my partner I was done. My audience was politely surprised to see me emerge ten seconds later from the entryway.
I have so much respect for those people.
Even with outside lights on, the maze was so dark and nightmarish that I barely made it 5 feet inside. I reached the first "twist, climb over this, and the floor will shift," and I told my partner I was done. My audience was politely surprised to see me emerge ten seconds later from the entryway.
The Fire Chief said the maze is virtually the same as a real fire.
I have so much respect for those people.
Oh, that sounds awful! I kind of want to try it, though...
ReplyDelete