Bradford, VT- On Thursday, May 30, 2024, the River Bend Emergency Services and Fire Management class taught by Thomas Leeman worked with the Bradford, Wells River, and Woodsville fire departments to do a practice car burn. The burn started around 12:40 pm and continued to burn for around an hour. Groups of students in Leeman’s class took turns in the fire suits and used the hose to put out parts of the fire. Hay was used to start the fire and keep it going in between groups. River Bend’s Health Sciences, Cosmetology, Automotive Technology, and Heavy Equipment classes came out to watch the burn.
The participants were able to apply classroom learning to a real scenario in a safe environment. Onlookers were glad for the opportunity to watch and came away with a greater understanding of how quickly a fire can engulf an entire car. Leeman remarks “Overall the experience went extremely well. I have had several students who were not that interested in fire fighting operations, change their mind after experiencing a real vehicle fire.” The event was a success for students and learning and will likely be put on again in future years.
