Rapid Intervention and Fire Fighter Survival Training

Fire fighting can be a dangerous job.  Firefighters are often required to work in dangerous situations and environments where visibility is zero.  This can result in a Firefighter becoming stuck, trapped or tangled in any number of objects.

Each Ajax Firefighter completes a rigorous Rapid Intervention and Firefighter Survival Training Program.  This important training provides our crews with the knowledge, training and experience to handle potentially life-threatening situations and emergencies while fighting fires.

The following are pictures of some of our crews completing this training.

ENTANGLEMENT TRAINING

These drills require each Firefighter to navigate a tight, closed course, without being able to see, while dealing with multiple entanglements.  Each Firefighter must help his or her partner get untangled while continuing to move through the course without being able to see.

RAPID INTERVENTION PACK

This is a picture of the "RIT-PAK" that our crews use.  The "RIT-PAK" contains a high pressure self-contained breathing apparatus bottle and various supply hoses and adapters.  Each Firefighter must be able to connect this equipment to another Firefighter's breathing apparatus without being able to see.  This equipment provides breathing air to a trapped, downed or injured Firefighter inside a hazardous atmosphere.

This photograph shows a Firefighter navigating the entanglement course in addition to bringing the RIT-PAK with him.

STAIR DRILL

This drill requires each Firefighter to crawl up a set of stairs, travel across a narrow platform and then decend another set of stairs while dragging the RIT-PAK - all without the benefit of any vision.

WALL BREACH

In this difficult drill, each Firefighter is required to breach a stud wall, remove their breathing apparatus assembly without disconnecting their air supply, then be able to get their breathing apparatus and themselves through the stud wall.  After being able to get through the wall, the Firefighter then must be able to put their breathing apparatus assembly back on - all without having any vision!

For additional information on the Ajax Fire and Emergency Services Firefighter Survivial and Rapid Intervention Training Program, please contact the Chief Training Officer by e-mail or by phone at 905-683-4481.