On Sunday, April 15, 2007, about 25 paid-call and probationary firefighters received instruction and hands-on training at a “live fire” exercise set in an abandoned house in Fontana. The exercise was led by Training Division Battalion Chief Tom Pambianco and four other instructors, including Eng. Jay Hausman, Capt. John Chamberlin, Capt. John Lansing and Capt. Shawn Millerick.

Assisting with the exercise were a crew led by Capt. Dan Mejia and an engine staffed by Capt. Don Ewing and Lt. Rich Solometo.

After clearing the area of unnecessary hazards, the trainees underwent instructional exercises in fire behavior, using actual flames in one room. Other trainees learned how to cut openings in the roof to ventilate a fire, which removes smoke and enables firefighters inside to find and extinguish flames more safely and quickly.

Later, trainee teams applied their learning to launch attacks on fires both inside and outside of the house and trained in Rapid Intervention Crew techniques, which enable a back-up crew to locate, resuscitate and rescue an injured, disabled or trapped firefighter inside a burning structure.

Safety was the primary emphasis in all aspects of the exercise, including its design, Pambianco said.

The current owner of the abandoned house donated it to County Fire for training use.

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