How and when do you train?

[esfmmk]

I'm the member of a Volunteer fire department that responds to around 1000-1200 calls per year. A lot of them are smells and bells (we have 21 hotels). I'm very courius to see how other departments like ours train. I'm very interested in training and seek out as much as I can from our state and other departments in the area. I would like to help our training cordinator with some ideas. any one have anything different. We use the following schedule.

1st Tuesday: Meeting
2nd Tuesday: Fire
3rd Tuesday:Rescue
4th Tuesday: Spl operations

[Sparky04]

Next call you get lay some hose (dry run) and pretend it's real. You only need to use a section or two. Pull your hotel packs and grab the irons, whatever equipment you see necessary. You don't have to deploy anything, just simulate or if you do decide to pull something....do it dry. Set up scenerios on the board and set up a mock scene in your apparatus bay. For example, we built an airpak condidence course using culverts and plywood. We put some rope and wires dangeling in a 5 x 5 box tunnel that simulates debris and it is a good way of teaching how to get untangled if such a thing should occur. Build a mock roof that you can replace with sheets of plywood that allows you to feel for trusses and make your ventilation cuts. When your done just throw in another piece of plywood for the next revolution. We got our money from the soda fund. Be resourcefull.