DALTON, Mass.—The Fire Department held a positive pressure ventilation training on Monday, Aug.28 to strengthen skills that some firefighters needed to improve on. 

 

During a fire on Sunday, Aug. 20 some firefighters did not understand the principles of positive pressure ventilation, interim Fire Chief Robert Czerwinski said during the  Board of Water Commissioners meeting on Tuesday. 

 

The fire took place at 8:30 p.m. at 15 Judith Drive. The homeowner left a frying pan with food in it on the stove which accidentally caused a grease fire that spread through the structure's hallway, garage, roof rafters, and roof area of the general house. 

 

The Berkshire Eagle wrote the fire was knocked down within 10 minutes and that no injuries were reported as the resident safely fled the home after a failed attempt to put the fire out with a  portable extinguisher. 

 

Nevertheless, it was determined that some firefighters needed to improve their positive pressure ventilation training, and following the fire, the department held an after-action report to discuss what went well and where improvements needed to be made.  

 

Czerwinski said the firefighters were working with an older firefighting method of breaking out every window in the house to clear the air. 

 

"That's not what we should be doing anymore. Some modern tactics have proven that that's not always a good thing to do," Czerwinski said. 

 

During the training the department put streamers in the door and showed how selectively opening and closing doors can clear certain rooms in areas of the building. Using this method can vent an entire building within 10 to 15 minutes with minimal damage.