DEMONSTRATION LETS FIREFIGHTERS WORK TOGETHER

Firefighters from the Jackson Fire Rescue Unit and other area fire departments showed bystanders what they do, and why, Saturday.

The demonstration also gave the different departments the chance to work together, as well as compare notes.

The demonstration, held at the Jackson Wal-Mart parking lot, included removing the tops of two cars with the fabled "Jaws of Life" equipment and extracting a victim/dummy. Another crowd-pleaser was the engulfing of a sample "room."

A wooden crate was assembled, to depict a typical small room. Articles of furniture were in the room and a chair was set on fire. It typically takes four to four and a half minutes for a room to reach "flashover" when everything in the room is at the same temperature.

"The flashover simulator allows people to see how smoke detectors activate quickly and what can happen to a room if they don't have smoke detectors," said Brad Golden, Jackson fire chief. "Within seven minutes, when furniture, carpet, walls, things hanging on wall, and everything ignites at once."

The audience looked on, awestruck, as the chair fire soon engulfed the entire box, then erupted in a huge ball of fire at flashover. Fully-suited firefighters then quickly extinguished the blaze, leaving a burned-out shell.

Fire personnel from Jackson, Cape Girardeau (city), Millersville, East Cape County, Fruitland, Wycliff, Ken., Scott City, Delta and Gordonville and Dave Hitt of the SEMO LEPD and Cape County Emergency Management, were among those who took part. Other emergency personnel also participated in the events and a number of fire departments had trucks on hand for the public to examine, as well.

"I think things went very well," Golden said. "Several departments participated. We were able to network with one another. It had been a while since we had gotten to get together with our trucks and see what kind of equipment each was carrying.

"I thought the inter-agency cooperation went very well. We worked together, doing different scenarios, doing real well."

Helicopters were also on hand from Lifeline Southeast Hospital and the Air Evac Life Team from St. Francis -- although the Air Evac 'copter had to take off to respond to an emergency just minutes after landing.

"It gave the personnel the opportunity to train together. We don't get a whole lot of that because everybody's schedules are so busy," Golden said. "It also gave spectators a chance to safely see what local fire departments and emergency services are able to provide for them. It should give them an idea of what we do everyday."

The two wrecked vehicles were donated by Bob Baker of B & B Salvage, while Craig Yamnitz hauled them to the site -- both free of charge.

"We got really good cooperation from people," Golden said. "Those (wrecks) are getting harder and harder to come by. We thank them and thank Wal-Mart for donating the area for us to demonstrate our capabilities."

The Cape County Firefighters Association also had a "smoke house," which depicts the difficulty in breathing and vision caused by the smoke from a fire.

"Several children were able to participate in that," Golden said. "We thank Leon Dickerson, who provides transportation for that unit, free of charge. All in all, it was a very good day."