Students learn what it takes to battle a blaze

Staff

Published Friday, September 29, 2000

Features Editor

Sept. 28, 2000 10 PM

The health care science and technology students at Troy-Pike Center for Technology attacked the hands-on activity before them "like fighting fire." In fact, that's exactly what the students were learning to do - fight fire.

The Health Occupations Students of America (HOSA) in Gilda Belcher's class attended the Troy Fire Department's fire safety seminar yesterday and learned there is more involved in fire safety than they had ever imagined.

Belcher said as part of the HOSA program work, the students choose projects to serve the community.

"The HOSA students believe fire safety is very important and, if students are properly trained, they may have an opportunity to save a life - either their own or some else's," Belcher said.

The students received classroom instruction on fire safety. Firefighters Mike Rhodes, Jeff Berry and Lt. Bill Cobb taught the students how to recognize different types of fires and how to use the appropriate extinguishing agents.

Four elements must come together in order to start a fire - oxygen, fuel, ignition and a chemical change, Cobb said.

A fire is extinguished by interrupting the chain reaction that occurs when these four elements come together.

The students learned which extinguishing agent to use by identifying what is burning.

Cobb said to extinguish a wood fire, or a Type A fire, the heat should be taken away by adding water. To put out an oil fire, or a

Type B fire, the oxygen should be removed by smothering the fire with a dry substance.

An electrical fire, or a Type C, is put out by turning off the electricity. For metal or Type D fires, an extinguishing agent designed specifically for that purpose must be used.

After class, the students had an opportunity to use a fire extinguisher to put out a fire, and, for many of them, it was the first time handling an extinguisher.

"Most people have never used a fire extinguisher and many never will," Belcher said. "But after today's program, the students will know what to do and will have demonstrated successful skills on using the extinguisher."

Students from Charles Henderson, Pike County and Goshen high schools participated in the fire safety seminar.

Belcher and the students expressed appreciation to the firefighters and to Troy Fire Department for a lesson in life that could possibly enable them to reduce injury or save a life if faced with a serious situation involving fire.  

---

WOULD YOU LIKE TO SHARE THIS STORY?

---