Robinson-Area Firefighters Torch Trailer in Training Exercise

Area emergency personnel rigged a trailer on North Petrie Road in Robinson for an electrical fire—torching the structure in a training exercise for firefighters and Allegheny County Fire Marshal interns.

The fire, sparked by an electrical device in the vacated residential trailer, blazed for several hours Saturday as fire crews worked to extinguish it in a life-like scenario.

Interns from the Allegheny County Fire Marshal’s office then were then tasked with investigating the source of fire.

Flames fanned outward from the trailer, as firefighters maneuvered around the structure, shooting water inward.

“It allows (fire marshal interns) to investigate the cause; it’s their training exercise,” said Assistant Chief Raymond Daneck, of the Robinson Volunteer Fire Company No. 1.  “But it allows us to prepare too.”

Firefighters from Robinson, Forest Grove, Coraopolis, Kennedy and surrounding communities took part in the drill.

Fire crews allowed an electrical device, possibly a space heater or iron, to ignite the fire, then arrived to the trailer, located on an isolated property in Robinson, to extinguish the flames.

“The plan is to basically reenact an electrical fire, and work through that,” said Detective Jason Costanzo of the Allegheny County Fire Marshal’s office. “We’ll basically have this (trailer) burned down to the ground by the end of the day.” 

--

Sign up for the Robinson-Moon Patch email newsletter.