Apex Fire Department
OPEN HOUSE

Apparatus and Information Displays
We had tons of apparatus on display in the parking lot where kids and adults alike had a good time climbing up into the trucks and looking at the equipment. NC CERT brought their water rescue equipment and brand new communications truck to show off - more on them in the section below. Inside the bays firefighters signed trading cards for the kids, and parents could pick up fire education literature and free smoke detectors. Click the thumbnails to view a larger photo in a separate window.
Even before open house officially began, we had folks wandering through the parking lot checking out our displays.	Engine 2 and CERT's water rescue equipment	The antique 1939 Hunter is always a big hit with the kids
NC CERT had several pieces on display	CERT's wave runners	One of CERT's boats
Air-conditioned trailer where CERT's dogs could get a break from the heat	Rescue 3 is one of our latest additions that came along with the new cooperation agreement with NC CERT, and is housed at Station 3. It contains a wide variety of specialized rescue equipment.	Another new addition, the trench trailer
Some really heavy, really expensive equipment!	CERT's brand new communications unit	Need to talk to someone? Chances are, they can be reached from here!
Emergency Management was very interested in this new resource. Mac Morgan of CERT (left) spent several hours with EM's Brian McFeaters discussing its capabilities.	Engine 2	We advertised our child safety seat installation/inspection program. For more information about this service, click HERE.
Author Mike Legeros (right), pictured here with fellow fire buff/photographer Lee Wilson, was on-hand to talk about fire department history and sign copies of his latest book, "Raleigh and Wake County Firefighting" Volume II.	Mike put together poster boards with some interesting photos and tidbits from our fire department's history	The Explorers put together a booth with some great information about their program
Several of our members had individual trading cards made up. These turned out to be a big hit with the kids.	Stephen Schmaus gets busy signing his trading cards	Some of our Explorers (Chaz Frye, Edward Behringer) help the kids out with the bean bag toss
We invited citizens to take a break from the heat in our air-conditioned training room, enjoy some refreshments and watch fire safety videos	This little tike went right for the good stuff	Officer Blomgren was a good sport, manning his table despite the sizzling temperatures
Some interesting history about PD		Captain Jeff Silver (left) catches up with a retired FDNY firefighter
News Channel 14 sent someone out to get the scoop on our event	They interviewed Jason Nesbit, who organized the open house	WB22 also sent someone on-site
Kids LOVE fire trucks!
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High Angle Rescue Demonstration
Mike Beasley, Scott Criddle and Jeff Harrison demonstrated a pick-off. One firefighter rappelled halfway down the building and simulated getting hung up. The rescuer rappelled down to him, transferred him to the other line, then lowered them both down to safety. Click the thumbnails to view a larger photo in a separate window.
Mike, Jeff and Scott set up their system	A closer look at the tripod	Jeff gets ready to go over the edge
Jeff locks off about halfway down	Mike to the rescue
	Back safe on the ground, with cheers and applause from the crowd.
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Portable Fire Extinguisher Class
Scott Criddle and Shawn Sweeney headed up a few training classes on portable fire extinguishers for the citizens. They had a burn pan out back which they lit, then supervised as citizens practiced putting out the fires. The public was very appreciative of the sessions, some saying they had purchased fire extinguishers for their house but had never actually used one prior to this weekend. Click the thumbnails to view a larger photo in a separate window.
Scott and Shawn go over some basic points	Each session had a good crowd of interested participants	Shawn prepares to demonstrate proper extinguishing technique
The PASS method - Pull the pin, Aim, Squeeze the trigger and Sweep the fire.	Heading off a brush fire....	Shawn coaches this citizen as he approaches the fire
The next citizen faced a pretty good blaze	She was able to knock it down easily as Scott looked on	Fire under control!
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Burn Cell Demonstration
The Burn Cell is a 10'x10' structure intended to simulate a small room. The purpose of the demonstration is to show the public how effective smoke detectors are, and just how quickly a small trash can fire can grow into a raging inferno. Thanks to A-shift who spent several hours constructing the burn cell. At 1pm with a large crowd gathered to watch, we started a small fire in a trash bin next to a couch. Almost immediately the smoke detector activated, though very little fire was visible at first. Within just a few minutes, the fire built rapidly, with the drapes, then the couch catching on fire. Hot gases and smoke banked down until, at just 3 minutes and 20 seconds, a flashover occurred and all the room contents erupted in flame. Firefighters then doused the fire, leaving nothing but a blackened shell. Thanks to Mike Legeros who provided the photos of the actual demonstration. Click the thumbnails to view a larger photo in a separate window.
Scooter, Jon Brann, Jason Nesbit and I got an early start on construction a few weeks ago.	Scooter and Jon do some measuring	"Whatever you do, keep your hair out of this!"
My first cut!	Hammerin' away	Some furniture, drapes and fashionable carpet, and this place was looking quite homey!
We hooked up Engine 2 to the hydrant to supply one handline for extinguishment.	Firefighters Billy Gilbert and Krystle Mires wet down the dry grass around the cell while Phil Griffin (Apex EMS) and Jason Nesbit get the fire started with a lit cigarette in the trash bin.	00:00 Scooter leaves the scene of the crime as a small fire starts building in the trash can. The smoke detector activated just 28 seconds after the fire was set, before flames were even visible from the outside.
00:35 Within seconds the drapes catch on fire	Doesn't take them long to get going	00:54 The leftmost drape melts off the curtain rod and falls to the floor. Smoke is rising steadily to the ceiling.
Less than 15 seconds after the drape falls, the couch catches on fire	01:55 One would think furniture would be more flame retardant. But, in the blink of an eye this couch is aflame.	Rockin' and rollin'!
02:20 The flames spread rapidly across the couch and catch the second drape on fire	The couch is soon fully involved, spreading noxious thick black smoke into the ceiling.	02:51 The second drape is seen here falling from the rod
With nowhere else to go, the hot fire gases and smoke, getting thicker and blacker, bank down even further from the ceiling	03:15 Hot gases at the ceiling ignite forming rollover	Now flames are banking down towards the floor
03:28 Just 3 minutes 28 seconds after the fire was set, all the items in the room reach their ignition temperature and simultaneously burst into flames. This is a flashover.	This is commonly referred to as the "free burning" stage of the fire.	Floor-to-ceiling inferno
03:50 Krystle and Billy get to work	03:59 Flowing 125 GPM it only takes a few seconds for them to knock the fire down.	The thick black smoke has been replaced by white steam, indicating that they have successfully put the wet stuff on the red stuff
Fire under control!	The smoke clears...	After the fire is out, citizens are invited up for a closer look at the damage
Not much left of this room's contents	Got a little toasty up here. Hmm, looks like we're going to have to get a new clock for the fire commander's office...	The charred remains of our faithful smoke detector
This part behind the picture frame on the wall was relatively unscathed
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North Carolina CERT
The North Carolina Canine Emergency Response Team (NC CERT) is a volunteer force that offers search and rescue services both on land and in water. Members brought four of their search and rescue dogs, and they all won the hearts of children and adults alike. Team members rotated the dogs throughout the day, alternately giving each time to socialize around the station, then a break from the heat in their air-conditioned trailer. Each dog lives with his or her handler, and they spend countless hours training as a team. For more information about NC CERT, click HERE to go to their web site. Click the thumbnails to view a larger photo in a separate window.
Nancy and her dog Tasha meet some of the locals	Jack takes a moment to pose with his dog Jonah	Karen and her buddy Juno
Daisy and her handler Mark	Shelley distributes information about the team	Nancy and Karen take a quick break for lunch. Both of them (or at least, their pizzas) have Tasha's undivided attention.
Jack and Jonah answer some questions from the crowd	Daisy really knows how to ham it up!	Mac (left) and Bruce take their turn at the information table.
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