Firefighting can be a destructive process. Like many things in life, sometimes you have to destroy a little to save a lot. You have to remove drywall, so that you can get at the fire trapped behind it to limit the spread. You have to cut holes in the roof to direct the fire where you need it to go and to allow dangerous and explosive gasses to ventilate. Cutting holes in the roof, allows the smoke to escape so that firefighters making an interior attack with the hoseline can see where they are going. It removes explosive gasses from the atmosphere, to reduce the chances of a flashover or backdraft. It allows heat to escape, reducing the chance of explosion or firefighters or trapped residents getting burnt. What may seem like senseless destruction actually has a coordinated and rehearsed choreography to it.

Lately, there has been an increase in local construction. Townhomes going up next to Nectar Restaurant. Major demolition and construction along the Swedesford Road corridor. The Chesterbrook Genaurdi's Shopping Center. An additional upside to this has been the opportunity to utilize these pre-demolition buildings for training and to be able to practice techniques and tactics not often able to be done due to their destructive nature.

This past Monday evening, Berwyn firefighters got a chance to practice roof ventilation techniques on the old Surrey Services building located across the street from the firehouse. Members practiced using many kinds of handtools to open ventilation holes in the roof. It gave members practice cutting through roof shingle and plywood without damaging the weight-supporting trusses underneath. Firefighters used flathead axes, pickhead axes, pike poles, and Halligan Bars. They used chainsaws and concrete cutting-style saws. It was a tiring physical effort, but great training. Members were especially fortunate in that this particular building offered several different types of roofing material, as well as different pitches of roof slope. Firefighters were even able to cut holes in interior floors to simulate a victim following through the floor and being trapped.

If you know or own any residences or businesses that are going to be demolished and would like to help local firefighters get valuable training, please call (610-644-6050) or stop by the station and ask to speak to any of the Fire Officers.