Monday August 15, 2005:

In an effort to hone their ventilation skills, members of the Big Tree and Newton-Abbott Fire Companies conducted a joint training this Monday evening. The training, conducted at the Evans Center Fire Company's peaked roof simulator, was designed to teach firefighters how to safely perform vertical ventilation on a peaked-roof. Each firefighter was given the opportunity to open the roof using a variety of hand tools. Chopping and smashing were the theme-of-the-day.

Simultaneous to the roof operations, other firefighters practiced cutting metal and wood with a variety of power saws. Members from both companies were afforded the opportunity to work with the saws and tools that they might encounter during mutual-aid operations. By training together, firefighters were able to forge personal relationships and become familiar with the techniques and tools of their neighboring fire company.