From the Beaches to the Mainland: Ocean Beach FD Sharpens Skills at Suffolk Fire Academy
Photo by John Walthers- Suffolk Fire PhotosOcean Beach FD doing taxpayer training.
Photo by John Walthers- Suffolk Fire PhotosOBFD Firefighter Putman Tries to gain access during an evolution at taxpayer Training at SCFA.
Photo by John Walthers- Suffolk Fire PhotosSuffolk County Fire Academy Training by Ocean beach FD.
Photo by John Walthers- Suffolk Fire PhotosOcean Beach FD assistant chief and another firefighter back up other members on a line while advancing at the tax payer Drill.
Photo by John Walthers- Suffolk Fire PhotosOcean Beach FD members prep to put out a gas fed fire at Suffolk Fire Academy.
Photo by John Walthers- Suffolk Fire PhotosOBFD train on Gas Emergencies .
Photo by John Walthers- Suffolk Fire PhotosFirefighters advance on an LPG fed fire at SCFA.
Photo by John Walthers- Suffolk Fire PhotosOBFD members after putting out the gas fed fire.
SUFFOLK COUNTY, N.Y. — On September 21, 2024, members of the Ocean Beach Fire Department (OBFD) left the shores of their tranquil barrier island community to take part in rigorous training exercises at the Suffolk County Fire Academy. Armed with several apparatus, including their mini pumper, 3-20-7, the OBFD was ready to enhance their skills in combating complex fire scenarios.
The training focused on commercial structure fires, taking place at the academy's "Taxpayer" building. Throughout the day, OBFD firefighters ran multiple evolutions, practicing the critical skills of fire location, suppression, and victim rescue. These realistic scenarios challenged the firefighters, simulating situations in which they had to force entry to access fire locations, often encountering obstacles that required quick strategic thinking.
After completing the commercial fire evolutions, the firefighters took a brief break to recharge and refill their air packs. With little time to rest, they moved on to the next phase of training—dealing with Liquid Propane Gas (LPG) emergencies.
At the LPG training station, OBFD members tackled a range of gas-fed fire scenarios. From smaller residential propane tank fires to larger industrial-sized LPG tanks, the firefighters practiced controlling and extinguishing these dangerous blazes. The training offered valuable hands-on experience with the complexities of gas-fed fires, which pose distinct hazards to both residential and commercial properties.
For the Ocean Beach Fire Department, these exercises are essential in preparing their members to respond not just in their beachside community, but also in neighboring mainland towns through mutual aid. The skills honed during the Suffolk Fire Academy training ensure that the OBFD is ready to protect life and property wherever they are called to serve.
By the end of the day, OBFD firefighters returned home, better prepared to tackle the challenges they may face, whether in their close-knit barrier beach community or beyond.
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