Story Outline

Mobile Live Fire Trainer From a news story by CNN San Francisco Reporter James Hatori October 2002

I. Two recruits enter the mobile training rig.

a. There are fires in different areas of the rig.
b. A kitchen wall is on fire.
c. The ceiling starts to burn.
d. Inside it’s smoky, dangerous and hard to see.

II. The city of Novato has rented the mobile trainer.

a. The rig is parked in back of the fire station.
b. It has been rented to help train new recruits.
c. Recruits learn firefighting techniques.
d. They learn to handle the fire hoses and nozzles.
e. Most importantly, they learn to work as a team.

III. North Tree Fire International owns the mobile rig.

a. The rent is $3900.00 per day.
b. It is in use about one hundred days a year.
c. Tom Zurflueh sets up the fire scenarios in the rig.
d. He determines the length, heat and smoke.
e. Zurflueh controls the fire from a computerized panel.

IV. Propane tanks fuel the fires.

a. One hot spot is the kitchen stovetop.
b. A nearby rack contains dangerous, flammable materials.
c. Upstairs, a bedroom is on fire.
d. Temperatures can reach 1200 degrees during the exercise.
e. It’s noisy and hard to see through the smoke.

V. Kevin Johnston is the Novato Fire Chief.

a. Johnston and others help plan the exercises.
b. Using computer control, fires can be going in different areas.
c. Sometimes the scenarios are changed by the use of hand gestures.
d. Recruit response and experience determine the changes.
e. He feels the training is irreplaceable.
f. Training for the unexpected saves the lives of firemen.

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