WEST SENECA, NY — August 19 — Union Fire Company members participated in a weekly training session on Wednesday, using two small training structures to examine fire behavior, ventilation techniques, and flow paths.

Lieutenant Calderone, along with firefighters Norton and Jonah Vandewater, constructed two simulated house setups featuring different types of doors and ventilation openings.

These training props enabled the firefighters to study how varying ventilation conditions impact smoke spread and fire development.

The training focused on several key areas including flow paths, ventilation control, size-up procedures, building construction, flashover, and backdraft conditions.

Thermal imaging cameras were utilized to track temperature changes and smoke movement throughout the simulated fire scenarios.

This exercise was aligned with findings from fire research conducted by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) and the Fire Safety Research Institute.

These studies have shown that changes in ventilation can influence fire growth and alter flow paths in fires that are limited by ventilation.

Union Fire Company carries out routine training on Wednesdays and offers fire suppression, emergency medical services, and rescue operations as part of West Seneca Fire District 2.