Congressional Fire Safety Day
On Oct. 27, the ICC staff of Washington, D.C., participated in fire service activities at the annual Congressional Fire Training day hosted by the Maryland Fire and Rescue Institute (MFRI). Sponsored by the Congressional Fire Services Institute, the fire training day is a unique, hands-on, educational experience for congressional staff, committee members and others to gain experience on what firefighters encounter in their daily work.
Dressed from head to toe in fire safety equipment, Whitney Doll (Communications Director), Madison Neal (External Communications Manager), Juanita Henry (Communications Assistant) and Jacob Karson (Government Relations Representative and Executive Assistant) spent the day learning skills and utilizing tools that firefighters use every day. Under the close supervision of highly skilled MFRI staff instructors, all of which are firefighters/EMT/paramedics, participants operated extraction tools to cut vehicles, extinguished fires, experienced a live burning, practiced search and rescue techniques and stood in the bucket of a tower ladder that reached 100 feet in the air.
Located near the University of Maryland in College Park, MFRI is the headquarters to the state of Maryland’s fire and EMS training facilities. In addition to the training activities, the National Fire Sprinkler Association (NFSA) demonstrated the importance of having water sprinklers in homes. The presentation included two rooms, one room with a sprinkler and another room without a sprinkler. A fire was set in each room and participants witnessed the vast difference in destruction and observed firsthand the positive impact of fire sprinklers. To view the demonstration, click here.
Ultimately, the day was successful for all who participated as it allowed visitors to gain a greater appreciation for firefighters and the situations they face daily.
About the Author
Juanita Henry is the communications assistant at the International Code Council. She provides support to the Communications Department, including assistance in social media, media research, website content and updates, press releases, and maintenance and development of media and periodicals distribution lists.
