For four days last week Somerville firefighters conducted training using a vacant, commercial building at 311 Highland Avenue. Firefighters trained on rescuing an injured firefighter trapped in a basement during a fire. They also practiced using thermal imaging cameras to see through smoke, practiced using search ropes and two newly purchased Pak Tracker firefighter locating devices that lock on a signal produced when a downed firefighter activates an emergency alert. Firefighters were tasked with entering the dark and smoke filled basement, searching for and locating an injured firefighter, providing him with an air supply and removing the firefighter to safety. The training took place in a darkened, windowless basement that was filled with “smoke” from a fog machine to create realistic conditions. The Somerville Fire Department would like to thank Marshall and Gwen Simpkins for allowing firefighters to utilize this property to provide critical training for Somerville firefighters.

—Photos courtesy of Somerville F.D.