School for firefighters
The EV Building became a different kind of laboratory when student firefighters used it to practice operations in a highrise situation involving potentially hazardous research materials.
Darren Dumoulin
Darren Dumoulin, Senior Advisor, Emergency Management, reports that student firefighters from the IPIQ (Institut de protection contre les incendies du Québec) have been attending class in the EV building as part of their academy’s high-rise building course.
“Student firefighters visited the building to acquire a better understanding of the different systems found in high-rise buildings, such as fire suppression, ventilation, electrical, and elevators,” he said. “We also exposed them to our environment, which has a different dynamic than an office building. Research and hazardous materials can put a very different spin on fighting a fire.
“The course also includes practical training. Students walked up and down the 16 flights of stairs several times, wearing their turnout gear and with equipment in hand. Once they were exhausted, instructors had the students simulate a fire hose installation in the stairwell.”
Dumoulin said the program was also an education for our security personnel. By accompanying the firefighters, they learned what to expect from the fire department if a fire was to occur in one of the university’s buildings.
“Having Concordia host the students from the fire academy is a perfect fit,” Dumoulin said. “Concordia is after all in the education business, and benefits by having future firefighters who may one day respond to Concordia armed with first-hand knowledge of our buildings and community.”