Live Fire Burn Part of Nomads Fire Prevention Week
In an emergency or natural disaster, people sometimes speculate on what they might try to save—family photos, legal documents, jewelry, etc. In the case of a burning building, there is only one thing to save—you.
Recognizing National Fire Prevention Week and this year’s theme “Every Second Counts—Plan 2 Ways Out”, the North Madison Volunteer Fire Company (Nomad) held an open house on Oct. 15, a chance to share with residents fire safety tips, what the volunteer fire department does, maybe recruit new volunteers, and host some demonstrations.
The annual open house included a chance for kids and adults to practice with a fire extinguisher and witness a live burn of a simulated bedroom. The burn is a good way to show residents just how quickly a fire can spread indoors, according to Chief Dave Cone.
“Newer furniture, all of the synthetic furniture that you have in your house, burns really hot and really fast, so if you have a fire in your house, get out,” he said. “You do not have time to run back in and grab your cell phone or your laptop or your checkbook. By the time you get out and turn around to go back in, the fire will have doubled in size. A fire doubles in size about every minute. You don’t have time to do anything but get out.”
Residents watched as the sample room was quickly engulfed in flames and billowing clouds of black smoke. Many watchers gasped when the television set in the sample room loudly imploded. Cone said fortunately the department has not had trouble with residents running back into burning buildings, but said the demonstration was a good way to explain to residents why so many fire trucks show up at each call in the north part of town.
“If you live north, we don’t have hydrants up here,” he said. “The most common question I get from people is ‘Why do four fire trucks show up at my house for what seems like a really minor thing’? The answer is we have to bring all of our water with us…We are bringing a lot of trucks because we are bringing a lot of water.”
The all-volunteer department provides a full range of fire, rescue, and EMS first-responder services to all of Madison north of The Pines. The department works with Madison Hose Company #1, as well as the Madison Police Department and Madison EMS. The town pays for the trucks and the majority of the equipment, but the department still relies heavily on volunteers and donations. Cone said the department currently has about 50 volunteers, more than 20 of whom are fully trained interior firefighters—those who run into a burning building.
“We are very good on membership at the moment,” he said. “We would certainly be happy to have some more, but we are by no means short, which is really good because these days it is so hard to get people who are willing to make a long-term...commitment because everyone is so busy.”
The firefighters answer about 400 calls per year. At minimum, Cone said each volunteer commits to one training a month, one company meeting, and numerous calls, but most volunteers do much more. While the department answers calls, its members also go out and help educate the community. This week Cone said the department went to a nearby preschool and a cub scout meeting to demonstrate fire safety.
“The cub scouts had a meeting and we take some of the equipment off the truck and show them ‘Stop, drop, and roll’ and how to use the fire extinguisher and get out of the house, all of that kind of stuff,” he said. “We do those this time of the year because it is fire prevention week.”