Waterloo Fire Chief Ted Kavich said the best way to learn is from hands-on experiences.
That’s exactly what several members of Lauderdale Volunteer Fire Department got during training for liquified petroleum gas fires.
“In rural areas, LP gas tanks are a common thing, so as firefighters we have to know how to handle them,” Kavich said. “We’ve got to know how to get to the tanks, get the flames out, cool that tank down, and then get the gas turned off. “And the guys have to know when it gets too dangerous when to take cover. I’ve seen those tanks blow and go 40 to 60 feet in the air. It’s a part of our training, trying to be ready for any situation we may face.”