logo
Helicopter fire simulator used to train sailors at CFB Halifax

Helicopter fire simulator used to train sailors at CFB Halifax

CTV News5 days ago
As firefighters risk their lives across the country, a few are training at home to fight fires at sea.
Members of the Royal Canadian Navy and the Department of Defence took part in lifesaving, nighttime firefighter training in the Halifax area Thursday.
'We are practicing on a trainer that kind of simulates a helicopter crashing on a flight deck of one of our ships that we have at sea,' said Petty Officer David Ward.
The trainer is a controlled system that's part of the damage control division at CFB Halifax, Ward said. There is a helicopter onsite that trainers ignite using propane jets that bubble up through a water bath.
'We're trained to quickly respond,' he said. 'Our first priority is to get those casualties out.'
Ward said rescues require aggressive firefighting techniques to push the fire back and get air crew out as fast as possible before extinguishing the fire and eliminating hazards.
'The helicopters can carry torpedoes, machine guns, whatnot. We have to disarm those.'
Ward said the training was developed in the air force and carried over to the navy. He said they train officers from every ship in the fleet at the facility.
Sailor 1st Class David Fitzpatrick said the training was a great experience for learning new skills and firefighting positions.
'It's a good challenge of course, mentally and physically,' Fitzpatrick said. 'Especially with the hot temperatures we've been having here in July.'
Family and friends were given the opportunity to attend Thursday's training simulation. Fitzpatrick said it was nice to show loved ones what they do.
Sailor 1st Class Van Allen was commanding the trainees in the field. He said his team's performance was excellent.
'What I'm looking for from my guys out there is one, knowledge… The other thing is aggression,' Allen said. 'You've got to be aggressive attacking the fire. The fire fights back.'
Allen said the goal is to build muscle memory and camaraderie. Ward said the teams build plenty of both during the month-long course.
'Some of them don't know each other but they'll know each other for the rest of their career,' Ward said.
DND firefighter training
For more Nova Scotia news, visit our dedicated provincial page
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Mine near Snow Lake evacuated due to wildfire
Mine near Snow Lake evacuated due to wildfire

CTV News

timean hour ago

  • CTV News

Mine near Snow Lake evacuated due to wildfire

Hudbay's Lalor mine is seen in an undated image. A mine operating in northern Manitoba has evacuated due to the ongoing wildfires. Hudbay announced Wednesday night that the Lalor Mine near Snow Lake was evacuated due to a wildfire getting close to the mine site. 'At this time, the main front of the wildfire has currently moved past the Lalor mine site,' the company said in a news release. 'Initial video and camera inspections suggest our preventative measures and the fire crews' hard work have limited damage to the site. 'Once safe to do so, we will perform a more thorough assessment and inspection of our assets.' Hudbay said the crews will remain on-site to monitor the situation. Snow Lake is under a mandatory evacuation due to a wildfire burning near the community. According to Monday's fire bulletin, the fire is 21,480 hectares in size and out of control.

Ottawa Fire Services hazmat team helps tackle transport truck fire in Stittsville
Ottawa Fire Services hazmat team helps tackle transport truck fire in Stittsville

CTV News

time2 hours ago

  • CTV News

Ottawa Fire Services hazmat team helps tackle transport truck fire in Stittsville

Ottawa Fire Servies says its hazardous materials (hazmat) team helped deal with a significant fuel leak after a transport truck caught fire in Stittsville Wednesday. Firefighters were called to a section of Iber Road, south of Hazeldean Road, at around 11:09 a.m. on reports a truck was on fire close to a building. The driver had made it out of the vehicle safely and told firefighters that the fuel tanks were approximately half-full and could contain up to 500 litres. A large amount of fuel was leaking because of the fire, Ottawa Fire Services spokesperson Nick DeFazio said. Hazmat crews used an absorbent called 'Oclansorb' to keep the fuel and oil floating on top of the water used to fight the fire from leaking into a nearby ditch. The fire was declared under control at 11:27 a.m. and was kept from spreading to the nearby building. DeFazio said the Ministry of Environment was notified and they called in a cleanup company to the scene. Firefighters left the scene at around 1:30 p.m.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store