Morris County training facility provides invaluable resource for emergency responders

MORRISTOWN, N.J. -- Fire departments respond to more than one million fires each year in the United States. That number has been steadily decreasing since the 1970s, yet fires still present the potential for extremely hazardous situations when they occur. And while all fires burn, not all fires are the same.

Different types of fire present different and unique hazards and risks. Having knowledge of fire dynamics is critical for responding firefighters to properly identify a fire's origin and how it may react.

According to the Fire Safety Research Institute, "Fire dynamics depend on the relationship of the fuel, heat, and ventilation during a fire event."

Fires are grouped into classes based on the materials or substances that are present, but a simple ventilation change can significantly alter how a fire reacts.

So, how do emergency responders such as Picatinny Arsenal firefighters train for a scenario where the exact nature and variables related to a fire are uncertain?

The Fire Division of the Morris County Public Safety Training Academy in Morristown, New Jersey, is a multi-faceted training facility that provides professional training for fire, law enforcement, corrections, and first aid squad personnel, both volunteer and salaried.

Use of the facility and on-site instructors and trainers are provided at minimal cost throughout the year.

The academy includes a "Life Safety" complex for state-of-the-art fire training that makes it possible for departments to train as a group.

The facility can be used to provide practical and realistic training for firefighting and emergency services personnel in a controlled environment that replicates actual conditions encountered at the scene of an emergency incident.

"Utilization of the fire training facility at the Morris County Safety Training Academy allows the Picatinny Arsenal Fire Department (PAFD) fire fighters to meet Army regulation and requirements while also teaching real-world experience," said Christopher Foster, Picatinny's Director of Emergency Services, and former PAFD Fire Chief.

"Training at the Morris County Safety Training Academy, the PAFD has an opportunity to also train with our community partners, which develops a cohesive operation adding to the safety of our firefighters," Foster said.

By using gas-fed props and smoke, instructors can tailor scenarios to fit a specific training requirement or request.

"You can take an uncontrollable scenario and control it," said Derrick Shearer, an instructor at the training academy. "It allows you to work and develop response skills in a safe environment," he added. "You can drill a skill that you do not get to routinely practice so that you and your team can stay sharp and proficient."

Many changes are occurring that affects the role and duties of firefighters across the country. These changes include Structural Firefighting Technology and Tactics, Incident Command Systems, Homeland Security, Weapons of Mass Destruction Responses, and new state regulations in New Jersey, just to name a few.

The training facility offers various drill and training exercises that firefighters can undergo to enhance their skills, teamwork, and preparedness for a wide range of emergency situations they may encounter in an environment that is continuously changing.

"By providing the most recent and up to date training, firefighters who attend the academy have the skills and knowledge to perform their jobs efficiently, effectively and most importantly, safely," Shearer said.

The PAFD, during its continuous operations, performs hazardous duties to ensure the safety of military personnel, their families, and the public.

Because of its unique techniques and advanced training, the PAFD also provides mutual aid support to all of Morris County, New Jersey, when needed.

The department responded to 400 calls for service in calendar year 2022, 67 of which were fires either on or off the installation.

In March 2023, the PAFD was selected for Small Fire Department of the Year by Installation Management Command Directorate-Sustainment (ID-Sustainment) as part of the Department of Defense Fire and Emergency Services Awards for outstanding accomplishments of its fire departments, fire officers, and firefighters.

The department also provides an active Fire Prevention Division that performs fire inspections and code enforcement, organizes public education events, performs fire investigations, and reviews plans for construction projects.

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