Last week Dawson County Emergency Services responded to a structure fire alarm on Lake Drive in the central part of the county.  Arriving within seven minutes of the call, Engine One found a modular home 40% involved.  All occupants had safely gotten out of the home.  

The owner of the home reported he was cooking on the stove when a grease fire ignited.  When he attempted to remove the source from the stove, the fire began to spread. 

Within 10 minutes of arrival the fire was brought under control using 300 gallons of water saving the 1400 square foot double-wide from total devastation.  16 first responders were on the scene, with over 60% cross-trained as Firefighter/EMT or Firefighter/Paramedic. 

“Cross-training gives us more personnel for an interior attack,” said Deputy Chief Tim Satterfield.   “We were able to send six inside to fight fire while others were able to maintain control on the outside sizing up the location and condition of the fire. 

Satterfield reports that studies show for safe, effective and efficient fire suppression each responding company needs a minimum of four fire fighters.  “Given that the progression of a structural fire to the point of flashover generally occurs in less than 10 minutes, two of the most important elements in limiting the spread of fire are the quick arrival of sufficient numbers of personnel and equipment to attack and extinguish the fire as close to the point of its origin as possible,” Satterfield said.  

Research shows five-person fire suppression companies were judged to be 100% efficient in their task performance, four-person companies 65% effective and three-person companies 38% effective.  Further, six-person companies are judged 20% faster than four-person companies. 

By the end of 2008 nearly all Dawson County Emergency Services personnel will be cross-trained. 

“In over 19 years of my association with Emergency Services, this incident is one of the finest examples I’ve seen of cross-training at work,” said Dawson County Manager Kevin Tanner.  “It is rare to save a modular structure at this level of involvement upon arrival.  I could not be more proud of the men and women that represent Dawson County Emergency Services.”