The perils of training to fight fire

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Future firefighters in the theory room of the cantonal training centre in Andelfingen, Zurich. Dominic Büttner

Instructor Manfred Rothlin goes over the dangers of rollover, flashover and backdraft fire situations with the help of a sketch. Dominic Büttner

The flashover fire and related phenomena are treacherous. These fires smoulder until a source of oxygen is provided through the opening of a window or door. With the sudden access to oxygen, the gases catch fire spontaneously and explode. Dominic Büttner

A last briefing before the troops head into the flash container to practise in earnest. Dominic Büttner

The temperature in the flashover container can climb as high as 850 degrees Celsius. The strict rule: “Anyone who can’t hold out should crawl out. Do NOT stand up!” Dominic Büttner

Finally some fresh air: instructor Manfred Rothlin after an exercise. Dominic Büttner

The exercise concludes with a ritual involving a portion of snuff. Dominic Büttner

Firefighters at work Dominic Büttner

A fireman drags a pressure hose – which can be flattened out and rolled when it’s not filled with water – to a drill in a burning house. Dominic Büttner

In the burning house, firefighters practise putting out a fire in a basement. The rooms contain props designed to teach firefighters to use their senses when investigating a fire. Dominic Büttner

Darkness and smoke which has nowhere to go are the biggest challenges. Dominic Büttner

After the exercise the charred helmets and oxygen tanks are sorted out. Dominic Büttner

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A new and improved training centre should help firefighters cope with the extremes of their job. The unit in Andelfingen was renovated over five years at a cost of CHF21 million ($21.2 million). 

Originally built in 1972 as a training centre for civil defence workers and the air defence troops of the army, the facility needed updating to meet the growing and changing needs of Switzerland’s rescue services. 

In the newly renovated complex, representatives of fire services, civil defence, the police, paramedics and the army can practise reacting to a range of scenarios and gain first-hand experience in a variety of situations, from earthquakes to industrial fires. 

There are specially constructed buildings for learning to deal with smoke and darkness, as well as an 850-degree “flashover container”. Outdoors, firefighters can practise rescues with an aerial ladder. 

The facility is based in canton Zurich, and available for use by rescue services from the neighbouring cantons in northern Switzerland. 

A second training centre for earthquake rescue is located outside Geneva.

(Text by Jeannie Wurz/swissinfo.ch)