Gas Fired Props vs. Class A Burn Building

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Drew Smith on April 22, 2008 at 8:42pm

My two-cents on this matter is this: You need both. Class A teaches fire behavior and good nozzle application. I personally don't think you can get that with natural gas or LP. Gas-fired is great for evolutions. If the fire is there as a side show (the objective is for a company to advance the line to the fire or you are practicing VES) then the gas allows you to rotate crews quicker and if the crew is not getting it you simply hit the button, shut down and coach then start up again.

One word of caution: LP does not work below 40 degrees F. Condensation affects performance rendering the prop inoperable until spring, if you are in a cold weather area.

Permalink Reply by Brian Arnold on April 24, 2008 at 3:39pm

I agree with Drew, if you can have the best of both worlds go for both the Class A and gas fired props. If I were forced to choose I would stay with the Class A trainers. We have both and utilize the Class A props more supplemented by smudge pot and smoke machines to achieve varied conditions. With the gas fire props we have had numerous maintance issues, theatrical smoke burns off quickly and communication issues trying to coach or teach over the roar of the gas.

Permalink Reply by Frank Ricci on April 27, 2008 at 11:03pm

Class A is the way to go. Having used both I feel that firefighters should be exposed to as close to real life conditions as safely possible.

Permalink Reply by Tony Piontek on May 1, 2008 at 6:34am

I agree with Drew, you get the best of both worlds. Propane fired adds heat with no smoke, and you can modify/create props that will burn class A AND are gas fired...NG or Propane...just need to adjust the orifice size. It depends what you are trying to accomplish with the training, and the level of the students. ALWAYS match the 2 together for successful training evolutions.