Burn Building Policy

Authority having Jurisdiction

The City of Lynchburg is the owner of and its agents are responsible for the oversight of the Burn Building located at the Training Center. Use of this facility shall be conducted in accordance with the policies and procedures established by the City of Lynchburg and the Lynchburg Fire Department.

Policy

The delivery of safe and effective structural firefighting training is the primary goal associated with the Burn Building located at the Training Center. The preparation, delivery and follow-up of all live fire training evolutions conducted at this facility shall be conducted in accordance with NFPA-1403 Standard on Live Fire Training Evolutions (current edition).

Prior to each live fire training exercise conducted in the Burn Building, the Training Division of the Lynchburg Fire Department will assign a Site Coordinator for each burn. Live fire training conducted as part of an approved Virginia Department of Fire Programs training curriculum shall have a 1403 Compliance Officer assigned/approved by the appropriate Division Chief. During all live fire training the Site Coordinator and/or 1403 Compliance Officer shall assume responsibility for the safe use of the Burn Building in accordance with established policies. This individual has full authority to stop the operation when it is deemed unsafe or not in accordance with the established policies

Responsibilities

Agencies conducting live fire training in conjunction with the Virginia Department of Fire Programs is responsible for ensuring that training evolutions conducted in the Burn Building are conducted in accordance with established agency training policies and standards.
The Training Division of the Lynchburg Fire Department is responsible for the scheduling of all training activities conducted at the Burn Building.
The Virginia Department of Fire Programs has full administrative authority over agency approved training programs.
The designated Lead Instructor is responsible for ensuring that all policies and standards are followed before, during and following live fire training exercises.
All Instructors shall conduct themselves in a manner that is consistent with the instructional practices outlined in NFPA 1041-Standard for Fire Service Instructor Professional Qualifications and the Virginia Department of Fire Programs Instructor Manual (current edition).
Students using this facility must at all times follow instructions given by supervisors and instructors and must abide by the policies outlined within this document to ensure the safe and effective use of the facility.
The Lynchburg Fire Department Training Division will be responsible for scheduling the annual inspection of the Burn Building and calibration of the Temperature Monitoring System.
The Lynchburg Fire Department Training Division will maintain the security of the Burn Building.

General Live Fire Training Requirements

Pursuant to the requirements established by the Virginia Fire Services Board, the Burn Building has been designed for the following criteria:

Maximum number of live fire training days per year = 120
Maximum number of live fire training evolutions per day = 10
Maximum duration of each live fire training evolution = 20 minutes
Maximum sustained temperature during live fire training = 1200 degrees F
Maximum temperature spike during live fire training = 1500 degrees F
Only “Class-A” fuel materials shall be used for live fire training
Live fire training shall be in accordance with NFPA 1403 and the written guidelines of the Virginia Department of Fire Programs
Live fire training shall occur in burn rooms only
No training that includes tear gas, explosives, fire arms, or forced entry shall occur within or near the building
No vehicles shall be allowed within 15 feet of the building during live fire training
All live fire training conducted in the Burn Building shall be conducted in accordance with the following standards:
NFPA 1001 Standard for Firefighter Professional Qualifications (current edition)
NFPA 1041 Standard for Fire Service Instructor Professional Qualifications (current edition)
NFPA 1403 Standard on Live Fire Training Evolutions (current edition)
NFPA 1500 Standard on Fire Department Occupational Safety and Health Programs (current edition)
Virginia Department of Fire Programs Policy for Conducting Live Fire Training Evolutions
Virginia Department of Fire Programs Fire Instructor Manual - Safety in Training
Virginia Department of Fire Programs Fire Instructor Manual - Conduct of High Risk Training Activities
Instructor Qualifications:
Instructors utilizing the Burn Building for live fire training must ensure that the lead instructor for the burn meets the following minimum qualifications:
Virginia Department of Fire Programs Instructor II
Virginia Department of Fire Programs-FST Firefighter I&II Train the Trainer NFPA-1001-08
Virginia Department of Fire Programs-FST NFPA 1403 Awareness

Temperature Monitoring

All live fire training conducted in the Burn Building shall be conducted with the use of a temperature monitoring system. Unless otherwise directed, all training fires shall be monitored through the utilization of the system installed in the Burn Building. In the event that this system is out of service or otherwise unavailable, temperature monitoring shall be conducted through the use of a Thermal Imaging Camera (TIC). If necessary, it is the responsibility of the Lead Instructor to provide a TIC.

The Lynchburg Fire Department Training Division will maintain possession of the temperature monitoring measurement instrument.

At no time will an instructor conduct a live fire training exercise without utilizing a temperature monitoring device. Instructors who violate this requirement will be prohibited from future use of the facility.

Scheduling of Facility

Scheduling use of the Burn Building shall be coordinated by the Lynchburg Fire Department Training Division. Instructors scheduling use of the facility should be prepared to provide the following:

Name of Lead Instructor
Date and time of burn
VDFP School number
Name of 1403 Compliance Officer

Lead Instructors may not change the scheduled date of their live fire training exercise without prior approval of the Lynchburg Fire Department Training Division.

Prior to the scheduled date of the live fire training session the Lead Instructor will need to obtain the keys to the burn building and the measurement instrument for the temperature monitoring system from the Lynchburg Fire Department Training Division. The Lead Instructor shall be responsible for ensuring that the measurement instrument and keys are not lost, damaged or stolen while in their possession. Following the completion of the burn these items shall be returned to the Lynchburg Fire Department Training Division within three (3) business days from the scheduled date of the burn.

Live burn accountability

As a requirement of the Virginia Department of Fire Programs and the Lynchburg Fire Department Training Division, all students/employees that participate in live fire training shall complete a Virginia Department of Fire Programs Live Burn Accountability Form.

Before the day’s training begins each student and instructor must fill out a “Live Burn Accountability Form” and return it to the Lead Instructor. In the event that a student or instructor is injured or becomes ill, this form will contain the necessary emergency information for the individual. This form will assist the EMS providers and hospital with updated information, emergency contact information, any present conditions, any medications, etc.

STUDENTS AND INSTRUCTORS MUST COMPLETE REQUIRED FORM(S) AND THEY MUST BE ON FILE WITH THE LEAD INSTRUCTOR OR THE EMS OFFICER. IF THE FORM(S) IS NOT COMPLETED ,THE INDIVIDUAL WILL NOT BE ALLOWED TO PARTICIPATE IN THE EVOLUTION.

Following live fire training activities sponsored/endorsed by the Virginia Department of Fire Programs the Live Burn Accountability Form shall be forwarded to the Lead Instructor.

For all live fire training conducted by the Lynchburg Fire Department for the training needs of the employees these forms shall be forwarded to the Fire Training Captain.

Site Overhaul, Cleaning and Inspection

The Burn Building and exterior will be thoroughly inspected for any remaining fire and for physical damage. All unusable burned materials will be extinguished and properly discarded in a dumpster or area provided at the facility. Any damage to the building as a result of the training evolution will be documented and reported to the Virginia Department of Fire Programs appropriate Division Chief and the Lynchburg Fire Department Training Chief the next business day. At the conclusion of the exercise, the building and grounds will be left in a safe and clean condition.

Instructors that do not leave the building and grounds in a safe and clean condition may be prohibited from future use of the facility.

Damage to Facility

Any property damage above and beyond normal use may be billed to the agency or responsible party utilizing the facility