Owensboro firefighters took part Thursday in a hands-on training designed to give them a deeper understanding of the fire alarm and suppression systems they encounter on calls.
The training, hosted at the Owensboro Fire Department’s new facility off JR Miller Boulevard, featured a specialized trailer from Premier Fire & Security equipped with working fire protection systems commonly found in commercial buildings.
Battalion Chief and Fire Marshal Brian Roberts said the training allows firefighters to better understand how those systems operate before they encounter them in real-world situations.
“It lets us kind of see the inner workings of how fire alarm systems work, which benefits us when we go on a run. We know what we’re going to encounter,” Roberts said.
The trailer includes both dry and wet sprinkler systems, fire alarm panels, and commercial kitchen suppression systems, giving firefighters a chance to see how each component functions and how to respond when systems are activated.
Roberts said the department had about 20 firefighters participate in the session and hopes similar opportunities become more frequent.
“I’m hoping that it will be more frequent,” he said. “I think this is new for them, and bringing it out to other departments — hopefully we can get on a rotation, because it is good stuff.”
Casey Taylor of Premier Fire & Security said the trailer was designed to provide a comprehensive look at the systems his company installs and maintains.
“Today we’re basically just showing the ins and outs of fire systems,” Taylor said. “We’ve got two sprinkler systems — a dry system and a wet system — and they both release water onto a fire, but we’re showing how that works in more depth.”
Taylor said the trailer also includes alarm panels firefighters often interact with during calls, such as when responding to a triggered pull station in a school or business.
“They deal a lot with silencing those,” he said. “If there’s no real fire but the alarm goes off, they need to know how to resolve that situation.”
In addition to sprinkler and alarm systems, the trailer demonstrates specialized suppression systems used in commercial kitchens.
“In restaurants, you’re going to have fire suppression systems built into the range hoods that release an agent that can handle grease fires,” Taylor said. “It’s not water — you don’t put water on a grease fire.”
The training trailer is a relatively new resource for Premier Fire & Security, which has offices in Owensboro and Paducah. Taylor said the company plans to expand its use beyond fire departments.
“It’s probably about six months old,” he said. “We go to different places to show how these systems work, specifically fire departments, but we’re going to get more into elementary schools and technical colleges for people who might want to get into this field.”
Taylor said the partnership between the company and the fire department ultimately centers on the same goal — protecting lives.
“There’s nothing better than education,” he said. “When people know more, it gives them the ability to handle situations better and quicker. We appreciate what the fire department does, and in so many words, we do the same thing. It’s all about life safety.”
Roberts said that understanding the wide range of systems — from older models to newer technology — is critical for firefighters responding to calls across the city.
“We have alarm systems from probably the ’90s up until now,” he said. “It’s like looking at a car from the ’90s compared to today — a lot different.”
The training reflects the department’s ongoing effort to stay prepared for a variety of emergency scenarios while continuing to build partnerships that enhance public safety.
