The Newport Fire/EMS Department under the direction of Chief Bill Darin are undergoing a 3-day training session using the “Denver Fire Drill” Firefighter Survival & Rescue House. Bellevue’s Fire/EMS is also participating in the training session.
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The “Denver Fire Drill” is the result of a Denver, CO., fire on September 28, 1992 that claimed the life of Mark Langvardt age 39, and a 16-year Veteran.
It was a 3-alarm fire in which a collapse, intense heat and heavy smoke trapped 16-year veteran Langvardt inside a storage room. Fellow firefighters responded by removing bars from windows in a rescue attempt but were unable to pick him up and get him out of the window. Access to the storage room from inside was hampered by heavy cabinets and equipment leaving an aisle way only 28 inches wide.
As a result the “Denver Fire Drill” training was developed and is taught in firefighter safety and survival classes around the country.
The exact replica of the building, including an entry window of 19 1/2″ by 48″ and two wooden walls to represent the wall and filing cabinets where Firefighter Langvardt was found enable current-day firefighters to practice drills to learn to avoid a similar situation.
See the website to learn more about the Firefighter Tool Box program
Thanks Judy Clabes at NKY Tribune for a very nice article. And thanks for sharing Bev.
Todd