Northern RI Fire Departments to Get New Mobile Training Simulator

Press Release

In an effort to help firefighters train locally, expand their emergency response skillset, and save taxpayer dollars, U.S. Senators Jack Reed and Sheldon Whitehouse, together with Congressman David Cicilline today announced a $248,637 federal grant for the Smithfield Fire Department that will benefit a number of fire departments in northern Rhode Island. The Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) will help the Smithfield Fire Department acquire a state-of-the-art mobile training simulator that will allow area firefighters to receive specialized training in responding to more than 200 possible disaster scenarios.

The Smithfield, North Smithfield, Albion Fire District, Cumberland, and Woonsocket fire departments will all benefit from the regional AFG grant. They are all part of the Greater Woonsocket Fire Chiefs Mutual Aid Association, which helps coordinate mutual aid runs, plans joint training drills, and responds to firefighter and EMS safety concerns. Together the departments identified a need to provide specialized training to help their firefighters master all the skills they are required to maintain while servicing the diverse communities of northern Rhode Island. The AFG grant will allow the group to purchase a mobile training simulator unit that is easily transported to each of the participating departments.

The 50+ foot mobile training simulator resembles a tractor trailer and has built-in propane burners, smoke generators, and water pipes throughout its adjustable sections. It will enable firefighters to receive training for a variety of emergency scenarios they may encounter on the job -- ranging from explosions to cave-ins to different types of fires -- all experienced as real-life situations in a controlled, safe environment. The simulator is able to re-create 200 disaster scenarios, including exercises that will train firefighters to crawl through two levels of a simulated pancaked building, and develop experience in firefighter search and survival, rescue of trapped victims, victim searches, packaging of victims under total darkness with and without smoke, downed firefighter rescue, buddy breathing, search and rescue, collapsed building with hazardous materials, window rescues, repelling wall, concrete breaching, and a sewage/drain pipe confined space rescue, among other scenarios.

"This new training unit is a smart investment in public safety. It is a great regional resource that will help firefighters across several departments enhance their rescue capabilities. I am proud to have helped secure these federal funds and commend all the fire departments collaborating in this regional effort," said Senator Reed, who supported the group's application for the grant funding. Senator Reed leads an annual fire grant workshop to help fire departments across the state apply for similar competitive federal assistance.

"Firefighters have to be ready for whatever is thrown their way so they need quality training and equipment," said Senator Whitehouse, who wrote a letter in support of the fire departments' grant application. "This funding will help our firefighters prepare for the dangers they face and better protect the communities they serve. Congratulations to all these departments on this successful grant application."

"We owe it to our first responders to ensure they have the tools and resources to serve their communities as safely and effectively as possible. I am thrilled to join my colleagues to announce almost $250,000 in new funding to enhance training opportunities for firefighters in Northern Rhode Island," said Congressman Cicilline. "This grant will fund a mobile training simulator unit that trains firefighters to respond to more than 200 disaster scenarios and will help ensure their safety in life-threatening situations."

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