 | Regional Training Facility |  |
The Chief Herman W Brice Administrative Complex is
home to the Palm Beach County Fire Rescue Regional
Training Facility. The training complex provides
safe, controlled, and realistic training simulations
designed to meet the challenging and complex needs
of the fire service in a comprehensive environment.
The Florida Bureau of Fire Standards has approved
Palm Beach County Fire Rescue as a State of
Florida certified Training Center. High quality
instructors provide basic training, specialized
training, conferences, and seminars that includes
both didactic and skill sessions.
Facility
The 42-acre training complex at Palm Beach County Fire Rescue resides at
405 Pike Road and is centrally located off Southern Blvd and the Florida Turnpike.
The north side of the training complex is home to five
classrooms designed to accommodate 40 students each,
complete with full technology support. Computerized
simulation labs provide state-of-the-art driving
simulation, command and control simulation, and
patient simulation tools. The Apparatus Facility
houses the fully stocked Rescues and Engines, as
well as the equipment storage and maintenance areas.
The Training Improvement Grounds are home to the
6 story tower, 2-1/2 story Class A burn building,
driving course, extrication area, and a variety
of full-scale LP props.
Staff
The Training & Safety Division is comprised of 14 full-time personnel and 100 adjunct instructors. Nine full-time Staff Captains provide training for the 1,400+ personnel in Palm Beach County Fire Rescue in areas such as: officer, firefighter, medical, driver, special operations, and recruit academy training. The Website Specialist updates our extensive on-line training site. The personnel in the Video Production section provide monthly programs that are televised on cable television as well as producing monthly training videos for the department.
Burn Building
The concrete building is designed, engineered and built in order to allow
for the controlled burning of normal, Class A combustibles, in an effort
to replicate conditions experienced during interior structural firefighting
scenarios. The burn building simulates a 2 1/2 story, 4,200 square foot
residential structure complete with garage and exterior patios. High
temperature linings provide additional structural protection for repeated
Class A fires to allow students to develop the confidence and proficiency
in structural firefighting. Additional mobile props such as residential
LP gas cylinders, electrical service entrance, vehicle, and noncombustible
furniture add to the realism of potential scenarios. All burns are conducted
in strict accordance with Florida State Statute 633.821, NFPA 1402
"Guide to Building Fire Service Training Centers", NFPA 1403 "Standard on
Live Fire Training Evolutions".
The burn building also has a separate section specifically designed for
firefighters and fire arson investigators to investigate fire scenes in
order to determine cause and origin of suspicious and incendiary fires.
Tower
The six-story fire tower is constructed to provide fire and EMS training
scenarios aimed at replicating events in multi-storied buildings. The tower
is designed with multiple facades to accommodate various scenarios.
One-side has a single story residential façade with garage and operational
roof ventilation prop. Another side is designed to resemble a high-rise
apartment complex to simulate window and balcony rescues. One-side is
specifically allocated to elevated victim rescue complete with window
washer prop. The last side is designed as a commercial first story and
floor garden apartment arrangement on the second floor. Access to the
tower is possible through an exterior or interior stairwell. The interior
stairwell also has manholes to access floors six down to floor one. Each
floor and roof has anchor points configured for elevated victim rescue
scenarios. An interior smoke distribution system and sprinkler system add
to the versatility of possible realistic scenarios.
Fire Behavior Module
The Flashover Simulator provides Firefighters with an ability to watch the
stages of fire development in a controlled environment. Instructors are
able to demonstrate fire behavior and teach Firefighters appropriate fire
suppression techniques based on the fire growth.
SCBA Confidence Module
The SCBA Confidence Module challenges Firefighters to successfully
maneuver through a structured course during reduced visibility. The
course requires Firefighters to practice air management, utilize good
judgment and decision-making skills while constantly maintaining situational
awareness.
LP Field
The LP field has a variety of Liquefied Petroleum props to train Firefighters
in flammable liquid fires, car fires, and propane emergencies. To ensure
safe control over each evolution, the props are operated at an observation
platform that provides for an elevated view complete with additional safety
shut-off features. The individual LP props include a vehicle fire, Bobtail
LP delivery truck, commercial dumpster, flammable liquid, and a 250 and
1,000 gallon LP cylinders.
Hazardous Materials Field
The hazardous materials field contains confined space and hazardous materials
props to allow Firefighters the ability to recognize hazards, establish perimeters,
and complete required operations on actual devices.
Extrication Field
The extrication field allows Firefighters to train on various vehicle, truck
and bus accident scenarios. The field has an area to store surplus vehicles
and use a forklift to build each scenario combined with mobile props such as
telephone and power pole, power transformers, jersey barriers, and guardrails.
Driving Field
The driving field provides sufficient area to use a standard Certified
Emergency Vehicle Operator Course or other custom-driving course, if required.
In addition, the entire roadway system allows access to every prop through
various planned routes, turns, and provides for realistic apparatus placement
at emergency incidents.
Pavilion
The pavilion allows for rest and rehabilitation of Firefighters after
each training evolution. It contains numerous picnic tables and a
Charcoal barbeque grill.
Disaster Alley
This area includes an overturned bus, crashed helicopter and part of DC 7 airplane
for firefighters to training on mass casualty incidents. A future urban search
and rescue (USAR) rubble pile will provide realistic simulation of post-storm
conditions.
Lake and Drafting Site
The 10-acre lake provides the perfect setting for Firefighters to train in water
supply operations and flow large amounts of water, while allowing for the return
of the water back to the lake as a method of conserving this vital resource.
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Organizational Chart
