CHESTERFIELD FIRE AND EMS
It was Christmas, 2008, and Deputy Fire Marshal E. Keith Chambers, as part of a Fire Investigation Unit, was on the scene of a structure fire that destroyed a residence. After reviewing the scene and interviewing the residents, a consistent theme emerged; inappropriate actions on the part of the residents escalated what might have been a small, extinguishable fire into a conflagration. It occurred to Keith Chambers that what was needed to avert similar tragedies was more extensive fire prevention programs brought to more residents. “This was really a very small fire that one person who knew how to use a fire extinguisher could have easily put out, but attempts to extinguish the fire by the wrong means meant an entire home was lost during what is supposed to be a joyous time of year,” said Chambers. “I knew we could do better.”
Chesterfield Fire and EMS in Chesterfield, VA encompasses 21 firehouses, 450 paid firefighters and responds to more than 35,000 calls per year; combined they provide fire protection service to more than 311,000 residents. Located in Central Virginia, Chesterfield County consists of 446 square miles of suburban, urban and rural areas.
Keith Chambers, in addition to being a Fire Marshal, is currently a Captain with Chesterfield Fire Department. In the years prior to the purchase of their two BullsEye™ digital fire extinguisher training systems, the department provided a classroom-style fire prevention presentation to neighboring businesses, organizations and schools. Chambers believed that a hands-on training approach would be more effective in driving the fire prevention education message home. After researching a variety of companies who provide fire extinguisher training systems, Chambers was most impressed with the realism of the BullEx products.
Because the department’s fire prevention training budget was limited, Chambers resolved to submit a Fire Prevention and Safety Grant application in 2009. Utilizing population demographics and fire event statistics to support the need stated in their grant narrative, Chesterfield was awarded the funds to purchase extinguisher training systems. They received their BullsEye extinguisher training systems in July of 2010 and in addition to providing bi-annual fire prevention training sessions at local schools and assisted living facilities, the department is also providing training on -demand to anyone within their protective area who requests it. They have already brought their two BullsEye extinguisher training systems to an annual summer workshop for schoolteachers, at which they gave hands-on fire extinguisher training to more than 300 elementary and high school teachers.
“I think one of the greatest things about using our BullsEye fire extinguisher training systems is that it’s safe for anyone to use because there’s no live fire. And it’s easy to teach the other members of our department how to instruct on the BullsEye. I can train someone to use it properly in five minutes. That means there’s more time to teach the residents of our community,” said Chambers. “I’ve found that when we are at public events with smaller crowds, once someone has gone through one training evolution, they come back and want to try it again, only this time they want us to make it more difficult for them.” As Chambers explained, an increase in the comfort level of someone who may have to use a fire extinguisher someday means a safer community overall. The BullsEye training system has become so popular in the community that the department was booked solid for the entirety of Fire Prevention Week.
The Fire Prevention and Safety Grant application period will be opening soon. Contact Us today for product specifications or to obtain resource information relevant to grant procurement.