FDIC H.O.T. Session

Torch Operations for the Fire Service
8 April 2008, 8a - 4p

Lead Instructor: Jon Rigolo

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Engine Co. Ops: Suppression
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On Tuesday I attended an 8-hour H.O.T. evolution, Torch Operations for the Fire Service. Instructors were Jon Rigolo (Virginia Beach FD, VA-TF2), Tom Kenney (Hyannis MD FD, MA-TF), Don Kuhn (Memphis TN FD, TN-TF1), Rich Alfes (Naugatuck CT FD, MA-TF), Craig Mignogno (Columbus OH FD, OH-TF1), and Brian Heft from Petrogen. (Pictured left to right are Craig, Jon, Tom, Don and Rich)

Training was held at the facilities of the Ironworkers Local 22. We spent the first couple hours in the classroom where instructors went over the basics of each type of torch we would be using. The rest of the day we were outside on the training ground, rotating through each of four stations where we got plenty of hands-on with plasma arc, exothermic, oxy-acetylene, and petrogen torches. In addition there was also a confined-space simulation, and a metal-cutting circular saw that some firefighters got to play with.

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Our first station was the plasma arc cutting torch. The instructor was a representative from Thermal-Dynamics, who supplied the equipment for this station.
First he demonstrated some basic operations

Then each of us got to do as much cutting as we wanted
Instructor Jon (right) guides one of the firefighters as he tries his hand
In order to not burn up our personal gear, instructors supplied us with some extra PPE including a protective shirt, goggles, and heavy gloves.

Using the drag tip allows you to get right on top of the material
John O'Connell (FDNY Rescue 3 Ret.), FDIC Executive Advisory Board member, makes his rounds visiting the various H.O.T. classes.
Our next station was the exothermic torch.

Instructors were Craig (left) and Rich. Craig gives a short introduction to the torch and how it operates.
Rich demonstrates the metal cutting saw
It is quite impressive as it cut through this piece of steel like a hot knife through butter

Craig and Rich also gave us a demonstration of how a Petrogen torch could be used to safely cut a tensioned metal cable.
This requires a great amount of skill, as you literally have to cut the cable one strand at a time.
If you cut the cable too fast, the tension would release violently and the flying cable end would become a dangerous missile

It took several minutes, but one by one the cable strands came apart

Tension is released gradually as each strand is cut

And finally, with the last cut, the cable just gently falls to the ground
Back to the exothermic torch, a typical car battery is used
The trick is to use just enough force to blow the slag out, but not so much that the rod gets used up too quickly

Using the striker - once lit, the rod should look like a 4th of July sparkler until you start cutting. Any more than that and the rod is being wasted.
This firefighter tries out the metal-cutting saw

He made cutting through 1/4" steel look easy
I said the same thing at the "Engine Company Ops: Suppression" class but - somehow there seems to be something disturbing about the guys who set up these training sites, can't quite put my finger on what it is.......
Next up was the oxy-acetlyene cutting torch station. Here instructors had set up an evolution where they simulated a steel I-beam under a heavy load (notice the plates of steel clamped on to one end).

To make it more challenging, we pretended that it was up against an obstruction, and that we could only access one side of the beam with our torch.
With a series of well-planned cuts, we were able to get all the way through...
...and in such a way that the beam slowly separated with gravity and gently laid itself down, rather than suddenly falling to the ground and possibly injuring a victim underneath.

Instructor Tom demonstrates all the steps to light and tune the oxy-acetlyene torch to prepare for cutting

We practiced first on a horizontal piece of steel to get the feel of it. First lesson was, get comfortable. Once you start the cut it could take several minutes to complete it, so you don't want to be leaning over with no support, or be in an otherwise uncomfortable position, as you will get tired very quickly.
The applications for cutting torches are endless - here they cut a hole in a beam in order to connect a hook for lifting.
Those who were up for a challenge got to play in the confined space simulator, where students were forced to operate the torches in some less-than ideal positions, and do so safely without getting burned by the slag.

Our last station for the day was the petrogen cutting torch
Brian, who works for Petrogen, is an expert and gave us all sorts of great detailed information
With the petrogen torch, you need to take care that the striker doesn't get saturated with gasoline

First you pre-heat the metal by laying the torch to the side
Once it's hot enough, you can straighten up the torch and start cutting, so that the slag blows straight through
This torch makes quick work of some rebar

Instructor Brian proves that the slag produced by this torch is not actually hot! (ok - I'll just take his word for it!)
He also showed just how powerful this tool is, and how it could cut through some incredibly thick metal
Instructor Tom ate his Wheaties this morning!!!

After a long hard day students loaded up in the bus to go back downtown to the convention center

	Our first station was the plasma arc cutting torch. The instructor was a representative from Thermal-Dynamics, who supplied the equipment for this station.	First he demonstrated some basic operations
Then each of us got to do as much cutting as we wanted	Instructor Jon (right) guides one of the firefighters as he tries his hand	In order to not burn up our personal gear, instructors supplied us with some extra PPE including a protective shirt, goggles, and heavy gloves.
Using the drag tip allows you to get right on top of the material	John O'Connell (FDNY Rescue 3 Ret.), FDIC Executive Advisory Board member, makes his rounds visiting the various H.O.T. classes.	Our next station was the exothermic torch.
Instructors were Craig (left) and Rich. Craig gives a short introduction to the torch and how it operates.	Rich demonstrates the metal cutting saw	It is quite impressive as it cut through this piece of steel like a hot knife through butter
Craig and Rich also gave us a demonstration of how a Petrogen torch could be used to safely cut a tensioned metal cable.	This requires a great amount of skill, as you literally have to cut the cable one strand at a time.	If you cut the cable too fast, the tension would release violently and the flying cable end would become a dangerous missile
It took several minutes, but one by one the cable strands came apart		Tension is released gradually as each strand is cut
And finally, with the last cut, the cable just gently falls to the ground	Back to the exothermic torch, a typical car battery is used	The trick is to use just enough force to blow the slag out, but not so much that the rod gets used up too quickly
	Using the striker - once lit, the rod should look like a 4th of July sparkler until you start cutting. Any more than that and the rod is being wasted.	This firefighter tries out the metal-cutting saw
He made cutting through 1/4" steel look easy	I said the same thing at the "Engine Company Ops: Suppression" class but - somehow there seems to be something disturbing about the guys who set up these training sites, can't quite put my finger on what it is.......	Next up was the oxy-acetlyene cutting torch station. Here instructors had set up an evolution where they simulated a steel I-beam under a heavy load (notice the plates of steel clamped on to one end).
To make it more challenging, we pretended that it was up against an obstruction, and that we could only access one side of the beam with our torch.	With a series of well-planned cuts, we were able to get all the way through...	...and in such a way that the beam slowly separated with gravity and gently laid itself down, rather than suddenly falling to the ground and possibly injuring a victim underneath.
	Instructor Tom demonstrates all the steps to light and tune the oxy-acetlyene torch to prepare for cutting
We practiced first on a horizontal piece of steel to get the feel of it. First lesson was, get comfortable. Once you start the cut it could take several minutes to complete it, so you don't want to be leaning over with no support, or be in an otherwise uncomfortable position, as you will get tired very quickly.	The applications for cutting torches are endless - here they cut a hole in a beam in order to connect a hook for lifting.	Those who were up for a challenge got to play in the confined space simulator, where students were forced to operate the torches in some less-than ideal positions, and do so safely without getting burned by the slag.
Our last station for the day was the petrogen cutting torch	Brian, who works for Petrogen, is an expert and gave us all sorts of great detailed information	With the petrogen torch, you need to take care that the striker doesn't get saturated with gasoline
First you pre-heat the metal by laying the torch to the side	Once it's hot enough, you can straighten up the torch and start cutting, so that the slag blows straight through	This torch makes quick work of some rebar
Instructor Brian proves that the slag produced by this torch is not actually hot! (ok - I'll just take his word for it!)	He also showed just how powerful this tool is, and how it could cut through some incredibly thick metal	Instructor Tom ate his Wheaties this morning!!!
After a long hard day students loaded up in the bus to go back downtown to the convention center

FDIC H.O.T. Session

Torch Operations for the Fire Service 8 April 2008, 8a - 4p

Torch Operations for the Fire Service
8 April 2008, 8a - 4p