Commando training for fire personnel

Govind D. Belgaumkar
MANGALORE: In a path-breaking development, 28 new recruits to head fire stations across the State underwent rigorous training, akin to the gruelling physical and mental challenges the commando trainees are subjected to. The training was conducted at the Fire Station here and in jungles and quarry pits on the city outskirts. The training included crossing 15 types of obstacles including a tough 10-feet wall, python crawl, rope climbing, para jumping, gap crossing, double rope commando crawl, rappelling, single hole crossing, parallel rope walking, dead body evacuation by sliding it on a rope and carrying the injured through steep and tough terrain.

Thrust area According to Mangalore’s Chief Fire Officer D. Rasheed, who conceptualised the new training programme in consultation with his higher ups, the fire forces of the present day face multiple challenges and hazards while dealing with life and properties of people. Old type of training, where they were trained only to fight fire, had become obsolete, Mr. Rasheed said. Hitherto, the training had meant 80 per cent theory and 20 per cent practical indoctrination in fire fighting. But under the new training regime, the practical phase were given 60 per cent weightage, he said. The trainees have been moved to Bangalore after the physical training here.

Mr. Rasheed, who calls it “fire commando course”, has joined hands with the local Kirti Adventure Institute, in preparing the recruits for the modern tasks. He said it was a holistic approach to train their mind, body and soul. Their activities would begin early in the day with meditation, followed by a 3-km run and physical exercise, which prepare them for tougher tasks. They are then put to commando-type training. Mr. Rasheed, who has got the training process recorded on a video, said the way the trainees were able to climb a 40-feet wall using the natural rock-climbing technique, had to be seen to be believed. Mr. Rasheed, who has been promoted and posted as Deputy Director (Administration) at Fire Force headquarters in Bangalore, hoped that the infrastructure would be created at R.A. Mundkur Fire Services Academy on Bannerghatta Road in Bangalore to train the fire personnel thoroughly.

He said to test the skills acquired by the trainees, an earthquake-like scene was created in an unknown area and the trainees were able to find it and evacuate the dummy bodies, passing through jungles, deep gorges and water bodies.
The trainees were asked to speak about their experiences, everyday and this had boosted their confidence, he said. According to Ramaprasad, junior instructor with Kirthi Adventure Institute, the way the recruits were able to cross a 40-feet deep gorge using a rope tied to two trees was impressive.